India, May 30 -- When the mats roll out at the Sports Authority of India's indoor stadium on Sunday for the Asian Games men's trials, all eyes will be on the 2019 World Championships silver medallist Deepak Punia.

Once a dominant force in 86kg freestyle and silver medallist at the 2023 Asian Games, Punia aims to make a statement and a comeback that could redefine his career and help strengthen India's medal hopes in the Games in Japan.

Punia's career has combined elite successes with interruptions that tested his resilience. Several high-profile victories established him as a world-class wrestler, but his consistency was affected by injuries, form fluctuations and selection setbacks.

Those questions now await a high-stakes answer in Lu...