Bajrang Punia: Olympic medal, suspension from wrestling… Wrestler Bajrang Punia is now ready for political ‘Dangal’

Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has entered politics. 30-year-old Bajrang joined the Congress party on 6 September (Friday). Apart from Bajrang, female wrestler Vinesh Punia also joined the Congress party. Vinesh had reached the finals in the Paris Olympics 2024, although she was disqualified before the title match.

Is Bajrang now away from the wrestling mat?

Tokyo Olympics (2020) bronze medalist Bajrang has decided to join the Congress just a month before the assembly elections in Haryana. Bajrang Punia had once said that it does not matter who is with him because when he thinks in his mind that he is invincible, no one can defeat him. Bajrang, one of the legends of Indian wrestling, touched many heights on the mat and also saw many bad times outside the mat. Bajrang Punia was the first Indian to reach the world number one ranking in the freestyle category. At the same time, he is also the first Indian to win 4 medals in the World Championship.

Bajrang has not officially retired from the sport, but his latest move makes it clear that wrestling is no longer his priority. It started months ago. He led the movement against BJP stalwart and then Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment of female wrestlers. He stood with Vinesh, Sakshi Malik and his wife Sangeeta Phogat who protested on the streets of Delhi demanding justice.

Wrestler Balwan Singh’s son Bajrang used to go out for practice early in the morning without informing his family as a child. He joined the wrestling ring at the age of 14. After achieving success in wrestling, he became an activist who wanted to change the system. This is the reason why he was not afraid to raise his voice against Brij Bhushan’s alleged dictatorial attitude. He did not care about the consequences even before questioning the methods of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

However, he started this rebellion after the end of his career. When he came out on the streets to protest with Sakshi and Vinesh, he had already won four World Championships, one Olympics, two Asian Games, three Commonwealth Games and eight Asian Championship medals. His critics called him an opportunist. However, Bajrang had already registered his name among the best players on the basis of his achievements at the international level.

…when NADA suspended Bajrang

On 23 April this year, Bajrang Punia got a big shock when NADA suspended him. Actually, Bajrang did not give samples for dope test during the selection trial held in Sonipat on 10 March. Bajrang got relief from the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP), but NADA suspended Bajrang for the second time on 24 June. ADDP had lifted the first suspension on the grounds that NADA had not officially accused the wrestler of doping by giving him a formal notice. After this, NADA issued him a notice and suspended him again.

Bajrang Punia is now preparing for a different kind of wrestling match, in which the support and votes of the public will decide his fate. His journey started from Jantar Mantar in January 2022 when wrestlers started a movement against Brij Bhushan. Soon it also got the support of farmers, women organizations, students, politicians. Bajrang could not prepare for the Olympics due to the movement and lost in the trials itself.

Such has been Bajrang’s international career

Bajrang Punia, who won the bronze medal in the Olympics, received the Padma Shri in the year 2019. Bajrang qualified for the Olympics for the first time by reaching the semi-finals of the World Wrestling Championship held in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan in 2019. Bajrang won the bronze medal in that championship. Although Bajrang was expected to win a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, he had to be content with a bronze medal. In the bronze medal match in the 65 kg weight category, Bajrang defeated Kazakhstan wrestler Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0.

Bajrang Punia performed as expected in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 and won the gold medal for India. In the final of the men’s freestyle 65 kg weight category, Bajrang Punia defeated Canada’s L. McLean 9-2. This was Bajrang Punia’s second consecutive gold and third medal overall in the Commonwealth Games. However, after that Bajrang Punia could not do anything special at the international level. Bajrang was also disappointed in the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Bajrang Punia has won so many medals

Olympics
♦ Tokyo Olympics 2020 (65 kg): Bronze

World Championship
♦ Budapest 2018 (65kg): Silver
♦ Budapest 2013 (60kg): Bronze
♦ Nur-Sultan 2019 (65kg): Bronze
♦ Belgrade 2022 (65kg): Bronze

asian games
♦ Jakarta 2018 (65kg): Gold
♦ Incheon 2014 (61kg): Silver

commonwealth games
♦ Gold Coast 2018 (65kg): Gold
♦ Birmingham 2022 (65kg): Gold
♦ Glasgow 2014 (61kg): Silver

Asian Championship
♦ New Delhi 2017 (65kg): Gold
♦ Xi’an 2019 (65kg): Gold
♦ Astana 2014 (61kg): Silver
♦ New Delhi 2020 (65 kg): Silver
♦ Almaty 2021 (65 kg): Silver
♦ Ulaanbaatar 2022 (65kg): Silver
♦ New Delhi 2013 (60kg): Bronze
♦ Bishkek 2018 (65kg): Bronze

Commonwealth Championship
♦ Brakpan 2017 (65kg): Gold
♦ Singapore 2016 (65kg): Gold