After winning the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships, India grappler Bajrang Punia has insisted that he will not consider the medal as “victory”, but will use it as a motivation to perform better in the future.
“Sometimes defeat teaches you something which even a victory cannot. I will not consider this bronze medal as a victory for myself but will use it as an inspiration to face upcoming challenges. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat,” Punia tweeted in Hindi on Saturday.
See the tweet:
कुछ हार ऐसी सीख सीखा जाती है जो जीतने पर शायद कभी न मिले। इस कांस्य पदक को जीत न मानकर, मैं आने वाली चुनौतियों के लिए इसे एक स्मारिक बनाकर प्रेरित होता रहूंगा।🙏 जय हिन्द जय भारत 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/vcAwkm1VAV
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) September 21, 2019
In Nur-Sultan on Friday, 25-year-old Bajrang held off a spirited challenge from Tulga Tumur Ochir of Mongolia, who had raced to a 6-0 lead but the Indian ruled the second period with a flurry of moves to defeat the Mongolian 8-7.
This was Punia’s second consecutive senior Worlds medal and third overall.
Along with Punia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya also bagged bronze in the 57-kg category after beating Iran’s reigning Asian champion Reza Atri 6-3 to win his maiden Worlds medal.
It is to note that both Punia and Dahiya had already sealed a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by qualifying for the bronze medal round of World Championships.
India clinched a total of three medals at the event as Vinesh Phogat had also won a bronze in women’s 53-kg event. The last time India won three medals at the Worlds was in 2013 when Amit Dahiya, Bajrang and Sandeep Tulsi Yadav stood on the podium.
(With agency inputs)