Deepak Punia defeated Ganbaatar 2-1 to clinch bronze in the Asian Games match

Deepak Punia in action during the men’s 97kg freestyle bronze medal match against Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar Deepak Punia won the bronze medal in the men’s 97kg freestyle at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday, defeating Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar 2-1 in the bronze medal match.Punia took a 2-0 lead after scoring two points in the opening period. Ganbaatar managed to get one point in the second half but Punia defended well to preserve the lead and complete the win.The bronze is Punia’s second medal from the Asian Games. He won silver in the 86 kg freestyle at the 2022 Hangzhou Games.Punia’s medal came on the same day that Aman Sehrawat won gold in the men’s 57kg freestyle. Aman beat world champion Han Chong Song of the People’s Republic of Korea 11-7 in the final to claim his second medal of the Asian Games, taking bronze in the same category at Hangzhou 2022.The final was close, with both wrestlers tied before Aman scored the first points to take the lead.Aman defended well against Han’s repeated attacks and quickly moved ahead 6-1 just after half-time with a series of well-timed attacking moves. However, Han responded with a strong counterattack and scored six points in quick succession to take a 7-6 lead.Aman then turned the match around with an important move that earned him four points. After Han’s failed challenge, he scored another point and put Aman back in front.Punia’s bronze is India’s third freestyle medal at the 2026 Asian Games after Sujeet Kalkal won gold in the 65kg category on Friday.