I was determined to end India's medal drought: Deepak Punia

Deepak Punia was so determined to break India's 18-year-old medal drought at the Worlds and realise his family dream that he risked aggravating a shoulder injury sustained during the semifinal.

It was the last chance for the 20-year-old wrestler from Jhajjar to change the colour of his medal he won at junior World Championship last year, and he did not not let himself down.

A muscle strain caused during the battle against Georgia's Miriani Maisuradze in the semifinal threatened to upset his applecart but he decided to carrying on.

It was a risky decision since it could have spoilt his chances at the Senior World championship next month, but something was driving him to not give up.

He was trailing 0-2 against Russia's Alik Shebzukhov but managed to level the score with his Takedown move with just a little over a minute to go in the final.

It was clear he was not his usual attacking self in the final.

"I had suffered a minor injury during my semifinal against the Georgian wrestler, so I was not at my 100 percent in the final. This guy in the final was also good. It was a very good bout," Deepak told PTI from Tallinn, Estonia.

"I had given my all, my soul to train so that I could break this record. I knew it's been 18 years that no one has won a gold at the junior worlds. I was determined to give India a gold. No silver, no bronze, just gold was in my mind and I am glad I did it," added the spoken wrestler, who won a silver at last year's Worlds.

Deepak is now set to make his debut at the senior World Championship, having emerged winner in the recent trials.

Why was he not focussing on just the Kazakhstan assignment since it will be his debut at that level?