<p>"My son has realized my dream," said Bajrang Punia's father Balwan Singh, holding back tears of joy after the star Indian wrestler clinched a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.</p>.<p>Punia outwitted Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the play-off on Saturday to win India's sixth medal at the ongoing edition.</p>.<p>"I had told you in the morning that he will not return without a medal. He has realized my dream by winning the medal," said Balwan Singh told reporters here here.</p>.<p>Bajrang produced smart attacking moves to completely dominate the proceedings against Niyazbekov, to whom he had lost in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championship.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/a-day-of-mixed-emotions-for-wrestler-bajrang-punias-family-1016993.html" target="_blank">A day of mixed emotions for wrestler Bajrang Punia's family</a></strong></p>.<p>Bajrang's family watched the proceedings live on TV along with scores of journalists and once the wrestler ended the bout, Balwan Singh was overwhelmed with emotions.</p>.<p>"Bajrang has made the country proud..I cannot tell you how happy I am feeling," he said.</p>.<p>"My heart says he will win," said the wrestler's mother, shortly before the event got underway, and her joy knew no bounds after her son tasted victory.</p>.<p>On the street outside, celebration broke out as family, friends and well-wishers burst firecrackers, distributed sweets and danced.</p>.<p>After Bajrang lost the seminal bout on Friday, Balwan Singh said he and his mother spoke to him and told him that he should not feel disheartened.</p>.<p>"We told him to not feel disheartened and keep his focus. He assured us that he will bring a medal," said Balwan Singh.</p>.<p>With Bajrang's medal, Indian wrestlers have matched their best performance at the Olympic Games. At the 2012 London Games, Sushil Kumar won a silver and Yogeshwar Dutt returned with a bronze. With his podium, India also equalled their best ever Olympic medal haul of six achieved in in the 2012 London edition.</p>.<p>Bajrang had defeated Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev and Iran's Morteza Cheka Ghiasi before losing to Hazai Aliev from Azerbaijan in the semifinals on Friday. </p>
<p>"My son has realized my dream," said Bajrang Punia's father Balwan Singh, holding back tears of joy after the star Indian wrestler clinched a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.</p>.<p>Punia outwitted Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the play-off on Saturday to win India's sixth medal at the ongoing edition.</p>.<p>"I had told you in the morning that he will not return without a medal. He has realized my dream by winning the medal," said Balwan Singh told reporters here here.</p>.<p>Bajrang produced smart attacking moves to completely dominate the proceedings against Niyazbekov, to whom he had lost in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championship.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/a-day-of-mixed-emotions-for-wrestler-bajrang-punias-family-1016993.html" target="_blank">A day of mixed emotions for wrestler Bajrang Punia's family</a></strong></p>.<p>Bajrang's family watched the proceedings live on TV along with scores of journalists and once the wrestler ended the bout, Balwan Singh was overwhelmed with emotions.</p>.<p>"Bajrang has made the country proud..I cannot tell you how happy I am feeling," he said.</p>.<p>"My heart says he will win," said the wrestler's mother, shortly before the event got underway, and her joy knew no bounds after her son tasted victory.</p>.<p>On the street outside, celebration broke out as family, friends and well-wishers burst firecrackers, distributed sweets and danced.</p>.<p>After Bajrang lost the seminal bout on Friday, Balwan Singh said he and his mother spoke to him and told him that he should not feel disheartened.</p>.<p>"We told him to not feel disheartened and keep his focus. He assured us that he will bring a medal," said Balwan Singh.</p>.<p>With Bajrang's medal, Indian wrestlers have matched their best performance at the Olympic Games. At the 2012 London Games, Sushil Kumar won a silver and Yogeshwar Dutt returned with a bronze. With his podium, India also equalled their best ever Olympic medal haul of six achieved in in the 2012 London edition.</p>.<p>Bajrang had defeated Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev and Iran's Morteza Cheka Ghiasi before losing to Hazai Aliev from Azerbaijan in the semifinals on Friday. </p>