Asian Games bronze medallist Antim Panghal has won two junior world wrestling championships and one senior world title.
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Renowned Indian wrestler Antim Panghal has chosen to forgo participation in the upcoming 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships set to start in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on April 11. Last year, Panghal secured an Olympic berth for India in the women’s 53kg category by earning a bronze at the World Championships. With the Summer Games just a few months away, the 19-year-old is choosing to prioritize her training for the upcoming Paris Olympics over competing in the Asian event.
Panghal enjoyed an outstanding 2023, defending her under-20 world championship and capturing bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October. Since then, she has not entered any competitions. She was also excused from the national selection trials for both the Asian Wrestling Championships and the Asian Olympic Qualifier that took place the previous month.
Anju, who emerged victorious in the 53kg category at the trials, will now take Panghal’s spot in the Asian Championships as part of the Indian team. Twenty-five-year-old Anju bagged a bronze at the U23 World Championships back in 2021, and notably bested double World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat during the semifinals at the trials. Nonetheless, Phogat succeeded in securing her spot for the 50kg category at the same championships.
Her remarkable track record includes 50kg gold medals at both the 2018 Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Phogat has represented India in two consecutive Olympics, moving from the 48kg division in Rio 2016 to 53kg in Tokyo 2020. The 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships will wrap up on April 16 and be promptly followed by the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024, also in Bishkek, from April 19 to 21.
In 2023, Antim Panghal had a remarkable year in wrestling. She earned a bronze medal at her first World Championships, successfully defended her Under-20 World Championship title, and took home bronze from the Hangzhou Asian Games. At present, she is the sole wrestler from India to have secured a spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Despite her success, Antim, who has won the Under-20 World Championships twice, has been sidelined with an injury since October of the previous year. This resulted in her missing the National Championships earlier on. Additionally, she encountered a muscle strain ahead of the selection trials held in Patiala.
Her coach, Vikas Bharadwaj, has recently announced that Antim has entirely recovered. They are now contemplating international training prospects in preparation for the Olympics in Paris. “Antim Panghal is back to full strength as of the end of March, and we’re looking into overseas training, though we haven’t finalized any plans,” he shared.
Antim Panghal has quickly become a standout in Indian wrestling. This gifted athlete has clinched titles as a two-time Under-20 world champion and has medals from the Asian Games, and Asian Championships, as well as the senior world wrestling events. She made history as the first Indian woman to grab the gold at the U20 World Championships in wrestling.
Her swift climb to success is noteworthy as she competes in the tough 53kg women’s freestyle class, where she stands as a challenger to the acclaimed wrestler Vinesh Phogat. Vinesh, with a rich haul of awards including three Commonwealth Games titles, two world championship bronzes, and victories at the Asian events, is among India’s greatest wrestlers.
Despite being a decade younger, Antim is seen as a strong contender to Vinesh in domestic competitions. With her family’s unswerving support, Antim didn’t take long to dazzle in the sport. She became a 49kg U15 national champ in Patna in 2018, also securing a bronze at the U15 Asian Championships in Japan that year.
She continued her streak with several cadet U17 national victories. At just 17, Antim snagged a gold at the junior Asian Championships in 2020 and landed a silver at the U23 Asian Championships, outperforming much older competitors. But 2022 was her breakthrough year, cementing her position as a significant force in Indian wrestling.
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