Wrestler Bajrang Punia gets closer to maiden World Championship Gold

Budapest: On Sunday after crushing a spirited challenge from Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier in an edgy 65kg semifinal, Indian star wrestler Bajrang Punia set himself in contention for a historic World Championship gold medal

While he had marked a niche for himself in the competitions at CWG and Jakarta Asian Games having won a bronze at the 2013 edition. This 24-year-old wrestler had come into the event as one of the strong medal competitors and has continued with his red-hot form this season.

If Bajrang manages to win gold, it will be an exceptional achievement to win titles at all major championships in a single season.

Bajrang's way to the final was not easy as he had to use his mental and physical strength to beat his Cuban opponent with (4-3) in the semifinal after conquering Mongolia's Tulga Tumur Ochir (5-3) win in the quarter-finals.

In the semifinals, there were not many attacking moves between Bajrang and Tobier who mostly used the upper body power.

The Indian opened the scoring with a takedown but the Cuban decreased the margin by pushing Bajrang out. Seconds before the first break, Bajrang took a 4-1 lead with a throw move.

Famous Sushil Kumar is the single Indian to have won a gold medal at the Worlds, achieving in the 66kg category in Moscow.