After Ravi, Bajrang Punia also wins gold on final day of Rome Ranking Series, Indian team finishes with 7 medals

After Ravi, Bajrang Punia also wins gold on final day of Rome Ranking Series, Indian team finishes with 7 medals

The Indian champion Bajrang Punia was rusty, was short of match practice but still was good to win the finals of the Rome Ranking Series.

In the finals Bajrang got better of American Jordan Oliver by 4-3 scoreline. The American repeatedly tried exploiting weakness of leg defense of the Indian, he succeeded for a while but in the end World number 3 ranked wrestler somehow prevailed to win his 4th Ranking Series gold.

 

Earlier the 2019 world bronze medallist had to work hard for his semi-final victory over Vasyl Shuptar of Ukraine. The fluency of Punia’s moves were missing and also missing was his fluent footwork – but still Bajrang held on to his nerves to score 6-4 victory against the Ukrainian. 

Shuptar had earned massive victory against 2019 world bronze medallist Eshanpoor of Iran in the quarterfinals.

Earlier In his quarterfinal bout Punia achieved another hard earned victory over Joseph McKenna of USA. In a closely fought bout Punia prevailed by 4-2. The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist also registered a tough first round victory against Zain Allen Retherford of USA. 

24 year old Retherford gave Bajrang torrid time with his aggressive tactics and was actually leading him at one point of time. In the end, Punia finally managed victory with score reading 5-4 in his favor.