NEW DELHI: Indian wrestling's poster boy Bajrang Punia will quickly stroll the famed hallways of the enduring Madison Square Garden in New York, US.
Bajrang is the primary Indian to be invited through USA Wrestling, the nationwide governing body for the sport in the United States, to take part within the "Grapple at the Garden - Beat the Streets" battle evening, scheduled on May 6.
Bajrang will tackle two-time US nationwide champion Yianni Diakomihalis within the 65kg category. The Indian, who won gold within the Asian championship not too long ago, is international No. 1 in his weight category.
While Diakomihalis is on a 47-match unbeaten streak, Bajrang too has had a golden run. The 25-year-old has bagged 8 gold medals in his last nine global tournaments, including first-place finishes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Asiad.
"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 advised TOI. In 2014, PM Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora from the venue.
'Can't believe a wrestler from small village were given this stage'
Bajrang mentioned combating at the Madison Square Garden arena can be a totally new experience.
"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 mentioned.
2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist Kyle Snyder and 2012 London Olympics gold medallist Jordan Burroughs - both from the United States - will also participate within the exhibit event.
As some distance as Indian sportspersons are concerned, boxer Vikas Krishan not too long ago competed at the Madison Square Garden and won his skilled bout in opposition to American Noah Kidd. Vikas grew to become skilled last yr and has stopped representing India at global amateur boxing tournaments.
The Madison Square Garden witnessed two legendary fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, including the famous "Fight of the Century" in 1971. Other memorable boxing bouts at the venue come with Rocky Marciano vs Joe Louis (1951), Mike Tyson vs Mitch Green (1986), Evander Holyfield vs Lennox Lewis (1999) and Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (2015).
Besides carrying events, the Madison Square Garden has additionally noticed performances through international's best musicians and artists comparable to Frank Sinatra, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bryan Adams, Ozzy Osbourne, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson.
Bajrang is the primary Indian to be invited through USA Wrestling, the nationwide governing body for the sport in the United States, to take part within the "Grapple at the Garden - Beat the Streets" battle evening, scheduled on May 6.
Bajrang will tackle two-time US nationwide champion Yianni Diakomihalis within the 65kg category. The Indian, who won gold within the Asian championship not too long ago, is international No. 1 in his weight category.
While Diakomihalis is on a 47-match unbeaten streak, Bajrang too has had a golden run. The 25-year-old has bagged 8 gold medals in his last nine global tournaments, including first-place finishes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Asiad.
"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 advised TOI. In 2014, PM Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora from the venue.
'Can't believe a wrestler from small village were given this stage'
Bajrang mentioned combating at the Madison Square Garden arena can be a totally new experience.
"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 mentioned.
2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist Kyle Snyder and 2012 London Olympics gold medallist Jordan Burroughs - both from the United States - will also participate within the exhibit event.
As some distance as Indian sportspersons are concerned, boxer Vikas Krishan not too long ago competed at the Madison Square Garden and won his skilled bout in opposition to American Noah Kidd. Vikas grew to become skilled last yr and has stopped representing India at global amateur boxing tournaments.
The Madison Square Garden witnessed two legendary fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, including the famous "Fight of the Century" in 1971. Other memorable boxing bouts at the venue come with Rocky Marciano vs Joe Louis (1951), Mike Tyson vs Mitch Green (1986), Evander Holyfield vs Lennox Lewis (1999) and Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (2015).
Besides carrying events, the Madison Square Garden has additionally noticed performances through international's best musicians and artists comparable to Frank Sinatra, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bryan Adams, Ozzy Osbourne, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson.
Bajrang Punia to be first Indian wrestler at New York fight night
![Bajrang Punia to be first Indian wrestler at New York fight night]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
April 27, 2019
Rating:
