Bajrang Punia became the first Indian wrestler to win three Worlds medals.
Top Sports News Headlines Today, September 20, 2019: A day after Bajrang Punia was eliminated from the semifinal stage of the World Wrestling Championship in controversial fashion, he roared back to make a late comeback to clinch the bronze medal, claiming his third medal in the history of the World Championships. Ravi Dahiya also won a bronze medal on Friday, India’s third medal at this edition. Vinesh Phogat had also medalled at the meet earlier. With three medals already and three Olympic spots already secured, India have already matched their best ever performance at the Wrestling Worlds. With other hopes, like Deepak Punia, in action on Saturday, the 2019 Worlds may yet turn out to be the most successful edition for India.
India’s ace boxer Amit Panghal (52kg category) on Friday became the first Indian boxer to enter the World Men’s Boxing Championship final. Manish Kaushik (63kg category) signed off with a bronze medal after going down in the semifinals to Cuban boxer Andy Gomez Cruz. The second-seeded Panghal defeated Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov in the semi-final by 3-2. On the other hand, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Kaushik went down to top-seeded Cruz losing the match by 0-5. Kaushik’s opponent is a the reigning champion. Panghal will go up against Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov, the reigning Olympic champion for the gold medal.
More: Amit Panghal becomes first Indian to enter Boxing World Championships final, Manish Kaushik ends with bronze
G Sathiyan (ranked 30) on Friday went down fighting in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Asian Table Tennis Championships to World number 4 Chinese Lin Gaoyuan. He is only the second Indian to reach the quarterfinal stage at this event and the first in 43 years. He lost by a 7-11 5-11 11-8 8-11 scoreline in the semifinal, managing to come up with a fighting effort to draw level as the match wore on, but failing eventually. The only other occasion when an Indian paddler had reached the singles quarterfinals was when Sudhir Phadke beat a Chinese in the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Championships in Pyongyang way back in 1976.
More: G Sathiyan goes down fighting to World No 4 in Asian TT Championship
Opener Priyank Panchal struck a fine century on the final day of the four-day match as the second unofficial Test between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’ ended in a tame draw here on Friday. The draw enabled India ‘A’ to pocket the two-match series 1-0. Gujarat batsman Panchal made 109 (192 balls, 9x4s, 4x6s) as India ‘A’ declared their second innings at 202 for three in 70 overs, thus extending their lead to 219 runs. With no outright result possible, the match was called off after the home side declared their second innings with tea break in sight.
More: 2nd unofficial Test between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’ ends in draw
India and Pakistan will meet to fight for the 7th place in the Asian Volleyball Championship on Saturday. Both teams had progressed from the group stages of this event but then lost to higher-ranked opponents. While India lost to Iran on Wednesday, Pakistan lost to Chinese Taipei on the same day. The top eight teams of this tournament will qualify for the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, which will be held in Jiangmen, China from 7 to 12 January 2020, where the winners will qualify to the 2020 men's Olympic volleyball tournament.
More: India pull off upset win over Kazakhstan in Asian Volleyball Championship
Bajrang Punia staged another late comeback in the 65-kg bronze medal match at the Wrestling World Championship in Kazakhstan on Friday, coming back from 0-6 down to win 8-7 against Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur Ochir. This is Bajrang’s third medal in the history of the World Championships. He had won a silver at this event last year. He had won a bronze medal in 2013. Ravi Dahiya also won a bronze medal on Friday. Vinesh Phogat had also medalled at the meet earlier. With three medals and three Olympic spots already secured, India have already matched their best ever performance at the Wrestling Worlds. With other hopes, like Deepak Punia, in action on Saturday, the 2019 Worlds may yet turn out to be the most successful edition for India.
More: Bajrang Punia clinches bronze in Wrestling World Championship, first Indian to win three Worlds medals