Bajrang Punia in line to become first Indian at New York fight night
Indian wrestling’s golden boy Bajrang Punia is all set to become the first Indian to step onto to the mat at New York fight night. Punia will take on two-time US national champion Yianni Diakomihalis in the 65kg category at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States of America.
The Madison Square Garden has hosted some the world's top musicians and artists. When it comes to the sporting events, the iconic Stadium in New York was witness to two legendary fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, including the famous "Fight of the Century" in 1971. The most recent famous bout was between the yet to be defeated Floyd Mayweather and Phillipines’ Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
As per recent TOI reports, India’s star wrestler Bajrang Punia is set to make his debut in the New York fight night. In doing so, Punia will be the first Indian to wrestle in the highly rated competition. The Indian wrestler is scheduled to take on two-time US national champion Yianni Diakomihalis in the 65kg category.
"Madison Square Garden is one of the biggest and most famous arenas of the world and I am very excited. This exposure will help me become a better wrestler," Bajrang told TOI.
The American wrestler is currently on a 47-match unbeaten streak, while Punia too is on a hot streak himself. The 25-year-old has bagged eight gold medals in his last nine international tournaments, which included gold medal finishes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
"I still can't believe that a wrestler from a small village in Haryana has got the opportunity to fight on such a big stage. This will be a different experience altogether. I am happy and nervous at the same time," the 25-year-old said.
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