February 26, 2023 marks the 29th birthday of the Indian freestyle wrestler, Bajrang Punia who was born in the Jhajjar area of Haryana's Khudan village.
The freestyle wrestler, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, was born in Khudan village of Haryana’s Jhajjar district. He is the only Indian to have won three World Wrestling Championship medals till date.
Punia began wrestling at the age of seven after being encouraged by his father, and today he has won gold medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.
His parents relocated from Jhajjar to Sonipat after observing their son's commitment and love for the sport so that Punia could train with experts at the Sports Authority of India.
After the wrestler won the bronze medals at the Asian and World Championships in 2013, he suddenly found himself in the spotlight. The wrestler was receiving instruction at the time from retired Indian freestyle wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt. He won a bronze medal, his first ever, at the Asian Wrestling Championships in 2013.
Two-time medalist at the Commonwealth Games; 65 kg gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018; silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. (61kg).
Medalist at three World Championships: Silver in the 2018 Budapest World Championships, Bronze in the 60 kg event at the 2019 Nur-Sultan World Championships, and Bronze in the 65 kg event at the 2013 Budapest World Championships (65kg).
7-time Asian Championships medalist; Silver in 2021 Almaty Asian Championships (65kg), Silver in 2020 New Delhi Asian Championships (65kg), Gold in 2019 Xi’an Asian Championships (65kg), Bronze in 2018 Bishkek Asian Championships (65kg), Gold in 2017 New Delhi Asian Championships (65kg), Silver in 2017 Bydgoszcz World U23 Championships (65kg), Silver in 2014 Astana Asian Championships (61kg), Bronze in 2013 New Delhi Asian Championships (60 kg).
2-time medalist at Commonwealth Championship; Gold in 2017 Brakpan Commonwealth Championship (65), Gold in 2016 Singapore Commonwealth Championship (65kg)
Gold in 2017 Ashgabat Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (70kg)
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