Bajrang Punia's successful run at the World Championships continued as he won bronze in the 65kg category by coming from behind to defeat Mongolia's Tulga Tumur Ochir 8-7 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan on Friday. He is now the first Indian wrestler to win three medals at the Worlds.
Ravi Dahiya also won a bronze for India on Friday. He beat Reza Ahmadali Atrinagharchi, the reigning Asian champion from Iran, 6-3 in the 57kg division match.
Ochir, the under-23 Asian champion, had raced to a 6-0 lead but Bajrang ruled the second period with a flurry of moves.
Asked later if he found his defence lacking since he has been trailing in his bouts of late, Bajrang said, "No, that's my style. I do well after trailing. I have been doing that for years."
Punia's bronze also earns him a quota for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He had earlier lost to Kazakhstan's Daulat Niyazbekov in the semi-finals.
Bajrang had previously won medals at the World Championships in 2013 (bronze) and 2018 (silver).
The 25-year-old is the reigning champion at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and also won gold at the Asian Championships earlier this year.