Deepak Punia's bold move to switch to the 97kg weight category has paid off as he secured his spot in the Indian squad for the Asian Games in Japan. The former world championships medallist outplayed Jointy Kumar 7-0 in the final, validating his physical transformation and strategic career reset.
Experts feel that adapting to the power-centric contests at 97kg demands patience and a willingness to re-learn elements of his wrestling identity. Punia's convincing win boosted new coach Shako Bentinidis's confidence that he can translate his calibre into results against Asia's best.
Other notable winners at the trials included Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, who delivered a dominant performance in the 57kg final, and Asian Championships gold medallist Sujeet Kalkal, who edged past Vishal Kaliraman 2-0 in a tight, tactical contest.
