New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Deepak Punia on Wednesday became the first junior world champion to win gold medal after 18 years at the Junior Worlds Championships in Talinn, Estonia.
He won the final of the 86-kg junior freestyle category after beating Alik Shebzukhov of Russia.
The final ended 2-2 on scores, but Deepak was awarded the bout as he had registered the last point-scoring move.
Apart from Punia, the other gold medallist at the junior world championship were Ramesh Kumar (69 kg) and Palwinder Singh Cheema (130 kg) who stood atop the podium in 2001.
He will also represent India at the upcoming World Championship in Kazakhatan, having won the trials.
Punia had also won gold medal at 2016 Cadet World championship as he defeated Milan Karcsog of Hungary 10-1 in his opening bout.
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