Bronze for Harpreet in Asian Championship

New Delhi: Harpreet Singh opened India’s medal tally, bagging a bronze in the Greco-Roman 80kg category on Day One of the Asian Wrestling Championship as other home grapplers failed to put up an impressive show here on Wednesday.

Harpreet defeated China’s Na Junjie for his second successive bronze medal at the Asian Championship.

Tied 1-1 after the first round, Harpreet came back strongly in the second round by taking down his opponent to open up a 3-1 lead.

Although the Chinese got one point due to the Indian’s passivity, Harpreet hung on to emerge winner.

Said Harpreet afterwards, “There was a lot of pressure on me as I was the only medal hope left and I wanted to give the country a medal on the championship’s opening day, being the hosts.”

Harpreet bagged bronze at the last edition in Bangkok.

“I focused hard and strategised how I could win the bronze. I am glad I could apply the strategy well to grab the medal,” he added.

Gurpreet Singh (75kg) was also in reckoning for a bronze, but lost his medal play-off 0-8 in just 38 seconds to China’s Bin Yang.

Earlier in the day, Harpreet reached the third place playoffs when his quarter-final opponent South Korea’s June-Hyoung Kim, who had beaten him in the last eight stage, entered the gold medal round.

Harpreet beat Yuya Maeta of Japan 2-1 in the qualification round, but went down to South Korea’s June-Hyoung Kim 0-8 in the quarters.

Kim then advanced to the title round making way for Harpreet to enter the bronze medal match.