World Wrestling Championships Final: Bajrang Punia settles for silver

Budapest: At the World Wrestling Championships Bajrang Punia carved his name in the books of history but failed to win a gold medal and end the country's eight-year long wait. On Monday, the Indian star lost to Japan's Takuto Otoguro in the men's freestyle 65kg final to settle for the silver in Budapest, Hungary.

With this Bajrang became the fourth Indian ever to make it to the World Championship gold medal match. This 24-year-old Haryana wrestler was rattled by the 19-year old Otoguro, who constantly attacked his left leg and emerged a comfortable 16-9 winner.

At the age of 19, Otoguru turned out to be Japan's youngest World Champion. Legendary Yuji Takada, who won gold at 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, had become youngest World Champion from Japan at the age of 20 in 1974. A four-point throw move gave Otoguro an early 5-0 lead, leaving Bajrang to play a catch-up game. With back-to-back takedowns, the Indian reduced the deficit to 4-5.

The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games gold medallist Bajrang finally had to settle for a silver, which is his second medal at the Worlds. Earlier in 2013 edition, he had won a bronze.

Sushil Kumar, India’s greatest ever wrestler, is the only Indian to win a gold medal at the Worlds, achieving the deed in 2010 in Moscow in the 66kg division.