Deepak Punia is an Indian freestyle wrestler known for winning a silver medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships, which helped him get a place in the 2020 Summer Olympics.Deepaks grandfather and father were professional wrestlers who used to compete in the local tournaments (dangal.) Deepak was introduced to the sport of wrestling when he was four years old. He started wrestling at local akharas to earn some money, and later, he moved to Chhatrasal Stadium to get proper training.In 2015, Deepak went to Chhatrasal Stadium to start his professional training under the guidance of his coaches, Virender Kumar and Satpal Singh. He was also practising under the supervision of two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar. Deepak Punia with his coach Virender Kumar.Deepaks efforts and hard work paid off when he won a gold medal at the 2016 Cadet World Championship that took place in Tbilisi, Georgia. Deepak participated in the Asian Junior Athletics Championships in 2018 and won a gold medal in the 86 kg category. He slowly moved towards Junior World Wrestling Championships in 2018 and won a silver medal for the country. However, he dreamt of winning a gold medal for the country. Deepak Punia after winning the gold medal and belt at the Asian Wrestling Championships.In 2019, Deepak again participated in Junior World Wrestling Championships and came victorious with a gold medal in the 86 kg weight category. Moving out of the junior level championships, Deepak participated in the World Wrestling Championships and made a name for himself by winning a silver medal. This paved the path for him to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.Deepak Punia reached the 2019 World Wrestling Championships with a shoulder and ankle injury, and he had to settle for the silver medal. He was supposed to face the Iranian wrestler Hassan Yazdani in the final round of the 86 kg weight category. Deepak Punia posing with his silver medal after winning the World Championships.After being shortlisted for the Tokyo Olympics, Deepak won a silver medal in the 2021 Asian Championships that took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan. After this, Deepak went to the Poland Open championship; however, he pulled out of the championship after he suffered a hand injury. He was supposed to face the American wrestler Zahid Valencia in the quarterfinal, but keeping in mind the Tokyo Olympics games Deepak decided to back out from the match to avoid any injury.Deepak Punia was the first wrestler in eighteen years to win a Junior World Championship. He was featured in the Forbes list of 30 Under 30 because of his performance.In 2019, Deepak Punia was conferred with the title of Junior Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by the United World Wrestling. [1]UWW.In 2021, Deepak Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya were training in Russia for the Tokyo Olympics. When they arrived in Russia, they were partly vaccinated with Covishield. The Indian Embassy in Moscow decided that they would provide the second dose to both Deepak and Ravi, but that did not happen due to Polands strict vaccination policy. [2]The Times of India.