Bajrang Punia

India's wrestling program is set to welcome foreign expertise with Iranian Saeid Abbaszadeh applying for the Greco-Roman coaching role amid West Asian turmoil. Georgian Shako Bentinidis will guide men's freestyle, while American Ian Butler takes charge of women's wrestling. These appointments aim to bolster India's medal prospects up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

A Delhi court has granted wrestler bajrang punia an exemption from personal appearance in a criminal defamation complaint against him by wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya. Punia's legal counsel requested the exemption due to his ongoing fever battle, citing the Metropolitan Magistrate's summons.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his gratitude towards wrestler bajrang punia for participating in the sequel of Meet the Champions.

India erupted with joy after wrestler bajrang punia won a sixth medal for the country at the Tokyo Olympics here on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind were among the millions of Indians who congratulated Bajrang for winning a bronze in dominating style.

BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a section of wrestlers, on Sunday said he is ready to undergo a narco test provided wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and bajrang punia take it too.

Following the appointment of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh as the WFI chief, bajrang punia made a statement by returning his Padma Shri Award. He notably placed the award near the footpath outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. On Friday evening, Bajrang proceeded towards the PM's residence but was halted by the Delhi Police outside the Kartavya Path. In a gesture of protest, Punia placed the Padma Shri Award on the footpath as a symbolic act and departed from the location.

Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli addressed wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and bajrang punia joining Congress, stating athletes are national pride and should not be politicized. The Congress party welcomed them, with Punia becoming working president of All India Kisan Congress and Phogat contesting from Julana constituency in the upcoming Haryana assembly elections.

Here are the big sports events lined up for Monday (October 22) that comprise the action from World Wrestling Championship in which bajrang punia will fight for gold medal in 65 kg final.

Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist bajrang punia extended his wishes for team India, ahead of the high-voltage clash in ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Friday clarified that it had arranged for physiotherapists to help bajrang punia at the national camp but the star grappler had refused to take their services. Bajrang on Thursday claimed that he has been doing his rehabilitation on his own after struggling to get a dedicated physio.

Olympic and World Wrestling Championships Bronze medalist bajrang punia met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday. The Home Minister met him for the first time after he won the World Wrestling Championships Bronze in Belgrade in Serbia. He also bagged the Commonwealth Games gold this year in Birmingham.

Olympian bajrang punia lodged a complaint with Sonipat police after receiving a threatening WhatsApp message from an unknown number, demanding he leave Congress or face consequences. Police are investigating and have referred the case to court as a non-cognisable offence. The number appears to be of foreign origin.

Indian wrestler bajrang punia went into the Tokyo Olympics as a huge medal contender. He missed out on a gold and silver, but he has ensured that he will be on the podium in Tokyo, wearing a bronze medal around his neck. With this, India now have two wrestlers who have won medals in these Games. Ravi Dahiya had won silver before this.

Wrestler bajrang punia bagged the first gold medal for India at the 18th Asian Games after defeating Japanese Daichi Takat11-8 in Men's 65kg freestyle event.

Sangeeta Phogat, a contestant on 'Rise and Fall,' had to abruptly leave the show due to the passing of her father-in-law on September 11, 2025. The heartbreaking news led to an emotional exit, with fellow contestants offering support. Her husband, bajrang punia, shared a touching tribute to his father, Balwan Singh, on social media.

Indian wrestler bajrang punia suffered a surprising defeat in the semifinals of the Asian Games, losing 1-8 to Iran's Rahman Amouzadkhalili. Despite the loss, Bajrang still has a chance to compete for a bronze medal. In the men's 57kg category, Aman Sehrawat advanced to the semifinals but narrowly lost to a Japanese opponent.

Ace India wrestler bajrang punia said on Sunday that the reason why wrestlers are protesting once again is that nothing has been done so far to resolve their issues and the wrestlers are here to save wrestling. Top Indian wrestlers, including bajrang punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, and Sakshi Malik, held a sit-in protest in Jantar Mantar in January this year, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed from the head office and Wrestling Federation of India be disbanded.

Olympian wrestlers bajrang punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have been taken to three different locations in the city by the Delhi Police after they were detained while trying to march towards the newly-constructed Parliament building on Sunday.

"bajrang punia will be supported by a dedicated team of experts to help prepare for upcoming competitions beginning with the World Championships in Budapest in October," JSW Sports said in a statement.

A Delhi court on Thursday summoned wrestler bajrang punia on September 6 in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya.

India’s star wrestler bajrang punia got engaged to the youngest of the famous Phogat sisters, Sangeeta, in Sonipat on Sunday. TOI was the first to report about the couple in its August 8, 2019 edition. Bajrang and Sangeeta have been dating for close to three years now.

Olympic medallist bajrang punia on Saturday told IANS that there will be no protest on Sunday as the wrestlers have trust in the government.

National Anti-Doping Agency suspends wrestler bajrang punia for refusing to provide a urine sample during selection trials. Punia faces provisional suspension and a formal charge under anti-doping rules.

Ace wrestler bajrang punia on Monday said he was working on his 'shortcoming', especially leg defence while the focus was on the Olympics scheduled in Tokyo later this year.

Indian wrestling's poster boy, bajrang punia, indicated his strong form going into the upcoming World Championships - to be held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan from September 14-22 - by picking his fourth gold of the year at the Tbilisi Grand Prix in Georgia on Saturday.

The Sports Ministry on Friday said bajrang punia's decision to return his Padma Shri award in protest against Sanjay Singh's election as Wrestling Federation of India president is a personal one but it will still try to convince him to rethink the move.