THE ACE HUSTLER

After picking up silver at the Asian Championships in February 2020, the pandemic slowed Bajrang Punia’s training considerably. The freestyle wrestler had to train without a sparring partner and with his Georgian coach, Shako Bendinitis, screaming instructions over the internet. Towards the end of 2020, Punia married wrestler Sangeeta Phogat, after which he travelled to the US for training and an invitational tournament.

- Shail Desai

Earlier this month, at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series in Rome, Punia’s first real competition in a year and one where he was also defending champion, the sailing wasn’t particularly smooth, but the wrestler picked up gold and reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking in the 65 kg category. Now focused on the Tokyo Olympics, to be held in July, the wrestler reflects on his recent victory and the year gone by. Excerpts:

Q. You won from 0-2 down with 45 seconds to go against Tulga Tumur Ochir. What was going through your head?