Historic Fifth Medal for India in Men’s 97 kg Freestyle after Poonia’s Bronze

Nagoya – Deepak Poonia’s bronze victory in the men’s 97 kg freestyle wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026 marks a historic moment for Indian wrestling. By beating Mongolia’s Ganbatar Gankhuyag 2‑1 in the bronze match, Poonia delivered the nation’s fifth medal in this weight class.

Poonia’s earlier success includes a silver medal in the 86 kg division at the 2023 Asian Games, underscoring his versatility across weight categories. He opened the current tournament with a dominant 12‑2 win over Chinese contender Zhou Junpeng, which earned him a direct semifinal slot after Hong Kong’s Lee Wai‑Fung Vincent withdrew.

The semifinal against Uzbekistan’s Sherzod Poyonov was closely fought; Poonia fell 8‑9, relegating him to the bronze bout. Demonstrating composure, he overturned the deficit against Ganbatar to claim the third‑place finish.

India’s legacy in the 97 kg freestyle category began with Maruti Mane’s gold at the 1962 Asian Games, followed by silvers from Ganpat Andalkar and Vishwanath Singh, and a bronze by Bheem Singh in 1966. Poonia’s medal adds a new chapter to this distinguished lineage.