Yogeshwar Dutt backs Bajrang Punia at Tokyo 2020: His power is amazing

Seven Indian wrestlers will participate in Tokyo 2020 Olympics as they hope to add to the five medals they have won in wrestling.

KD Jadhav won the first Olympic medal for India in wrestling back in 1952 as he won bronze in the 57 kg freestyle. Thereafter, Sushil Kumar won back-to-back medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 with a bronze and a silver. Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze medal at London 2012 too in the 60 kg category which was followed by Sakshi Malik’s bronze triumph at Rio 2016.

Dutt believes that India can certainly add to the medals tally this time around in wrestling. The Padma Shri award winner pointed that at the end of the day what matters is the performance of an athlete on the day and that past reputations do not matter much at Olympics.

Bajrang Punia has time and again mentioned that he looks up to Dutt as his mentor and backed out of Rio 2016 Olympic Games as he competed in the 60 kg category, the same as Dutt so that he could go to Brazil. However, Dutt missed out to sign off his career on a high as he was dumped out of the qualification round by Mongolian wrestler Ganzorigiina Mandakhnaran.

“Bajrang has a good chance of winning a medal. But again, as I said it will depend on that day how he performs. He has very good stamina. His power is amazing,” observed Dutt.

Critics have pointed that Punia has a weak leg defence and tends to concede early points to the opponent, something which has come to hurt him in crucial bouts. However, Dutt refused to be drawn on the matter and instead gave a diplomatic response.

“I am not in a position to comment on this. He has his coach (Shako Bentinidis) and he must be working on it,” he replied.

When will Bajrang Punia be in action at Tokyo 2020?

Punia’s first wrestling bout is scheduled for August 6.