India’s Asian Games medal hopefuls Bajrang Punia and Sandeep Tomar put up an impressive show at the Yasar Dogu International by reaching the gold medal rounds while Vicky settled for a bronze in freestyle wrestling in Istnabul.
Bajrang, who earlier this month won a gold at Tbilisi Grand Prix in Gerogia, exacted revenge for his loss at the World Championship to Mustafa Kaya, beating the Turkish wrestler by technical superiority (15-4) in the 70kg quarterfinals.
Continuing his good form, he then edged out Iran’s Yones Emamichoghaei 10-10 in the semifinal.
Sandeep, who was the last Indian to book a berth for the Asian Games by winning the re-scheduled trails, overcame three opponents en route the final — Belarus’ Andreyeu Uladzislau (7-4), Azerbaijan’s Parviz Ibrahimov (3-1) and Hazanzada Mircalal (6-4).
A stern test awaited Sandeep in the final of the 61kg as he was up against Iran’s Mohammadbagher Yakhkeshi.
In the 57kg, Vicky won a bronze medal with a 9-7 win over Ukraine’s Armen Arakelian. Vicky had lost a very close semifinal 5-5 to Belarus’ Dzmichyk Rynchynau, who was declared winner despite tied scores since he scored the last point.
However, four other Indians had a disappointing outing as they failed to reach the medal round.
Amit made an early exit in the 65 kg after losing his 1/8 bout 1-3 to Iran’s Hassan Moradgholiei.
In the 74kg, Jitendra made a good start by beating Ukraine’s Denys Pavlov by technical superiority, but lost his quarterfinal to Iran’s Saeid Mohammadreza 5-7 to bow out of the event.
Pawan, who got a walkover in the first round, also bowed out in the 86kg after losing his quarterfinal 0-2 to Turkey’s Ahmet Bilici.
In the 92kg, Deepak suffered a defeat by fall against Kazakhstan’s Islam Azizov.
Another Indian falling at the quarterfinal stage was Jashkawar Singh, who got past his compatriot Mausam Khatri 7-0 in the Qualification, but lost 0-4 to Ukraine’s Valerii Andriitsev.
Jashkawar still had a chance to reach the medal round in the 125kg as he awaited a meeting with Germany’s Nick Matuhin in the repechage round.
