The Millennial Dilemma of Bajrang Punia: The Olympic Favorites of India Show Problems in Defensive Armor

Over the past year, despite its meteoric rise, Bajrang Punia's two losses are cause for concern. Both faced young attack-minded fighters who ignored the Indian's reputation and tested their defenses. If Tokyo 2020 is part of the plan, it is necessary to solve the problems now.

The wrestler Bajrang Punia seems to be having some problems with millennials. And, perhaps, unlike the more superficial annoyance that overwhelms the nerves of the "elders," the Punia could ultimately cost you dearly. The Olympic gold that is so determined to capture in Tokyo is very much at stake.

The 25-year-old world No. 1 at 65 kilos of wrestling was during a wave of victories that no other Indian, including double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, has achieved in the past. In most of last year and in the first half of 2019, Punia won consecutive gold medals in continental competitions and wrestling tournaments by invitation and qualification all over the world. The two blots: a defeat at the UWW 2018 World Championship in Budapest in October, and the defeat at Madison Square Garden in New York at the "Grapple at the Garden": "Beat the Streets" last weekend.

Enter the Children - Punia doma a Takuto Otoguro from Japan and Yianni Diakomihalis from the USA UU

Newcomer Otoguro, 19, became the youngest world champion in Japan when he beat Punia 16-10 in the final in Budapest. On May 6, at Madison Square Garden, Diakomihalis, a sophomore at Cornell University, got the best of the No. 1 in the world with a score slightly closer to 10-8.

It is a fact that wrestling scoring lines can be deceptive and, in most cases, do not reflect the rumble and fall on the mat. In fact, they never do it. In both combats, the action was much closer than the indicated score. That said, the two young wrestlers were also more assertive on the canvas and in control against more experienced Indians, either maintaining an advantage or controlling the pace in the later stages, where Punia has shown in many bouts that it is more effective.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that both surprised Punia. That brings us to the rather puzzling question. What did the two teenagers do differently to annoy Punia, who has gone through many previous Olympic and world medalists? The answer could be the difference between an Indian gold in Tokyo or a nearby fault.

By: Preeti Narula

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