Wrestling | Bajrang Punia reaches No. 1 spot in 65 kg category

Bajrang Punia has won five medals this season including a gold each at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and a silver at the recently concluded World Championships. The performances seem to be bringing the expected result as he has topped the 65 kg category wrestler’s list. 

Apart from Punia, Cuban Alejandro Enrique Vlades Tobier is at the second place with 66 points. Bajrang had defeated the same opponent in the semifinal in the Budapest Worlds. Russia’s Akhmed Chakaev (62) is in third place and the new world champion Takuto Otoguro (56) is at number four, followed by Turkey’s Selahattin Kilicsallayan (50) at fifth. Bajrang Punia was also the only Indian to be seeded at the recently held World Championships. 

Pooja Dhanda has also improved on her rankings and is now ranked sixth in the women’s 57kg with 52 points. She won a bronze medal at the Women's World Championships. Ritu Phogat is at the tenth position in the women’s 50 kg category with 33 points while Sarita Mor is ranked seventh in 59kg with 29 points. Navjot Kaur (32), and Kiran (37) are ninth in 68kg and 76kg categories respectively.