Antim Panghal Becomes Second Indian Woman After Vinesh Phogat To Win Multiple Medals at World Wrestling Championships, Achieves Feat With Bronze Medal in 53kg Event in Croatia WC
Antim had secured a bronze medal back in 2023 as well at Belgrade, defeating the same opponent by a bigger margin of 16-6 via technical superiority. This was also India's first medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Meanwhile, India's Greco-Roman wrestlers struggled, with none of the four wrestlers winning their matches.
Zagreb [Croatia], September 18: Olympian Antim Panghal secured India's first medal at the World Wrestling Championships at Zagreb, Croatia, a bronze medal in women's 53 kg on Thursday. Antim defeated two-time European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden 9-1 and made herself a part of the Indian wrestling history books, becoming the only Indian woman after Vinesh Phogat to have multiple World Championships medals, as per Olympics.com.
Antim had secured a bronze medal back in 2023 as well at Belgrade, defeating the same opponent by a bigger margin of 16-6 via technical superiority.
Women's wrestlers have secured at least one medal for India during the last three editions of the World Championships. On Which Channel World Wrestling Championships 2025 Live Telecast in India Will Be Available? How To Watch Wrestling Matches Live Streaming Online?
Antim's campaign started with a massive 10-0 victory by technical superiority against Spain's Carla Jaume Soler in the pre-quarterfinals. In the quarterfinal, a win over China's Zhang Jin came in a tense manner, by 9-8, before she fell to Paris 2024 silver medalist Lucia Yepez of Ecuador in the semis. Meanwhile, the Asian Champion Manisha Bhanwala missed out on a chance to qualify for the bronze medal in 62 kg women's freestyle wrestling, as she lost to Bulgaria's Bilyana Dudova in her repechage round by 9-0.
But India's Greco-Roman wrestlers struggled, with none of the four wrestlers winning their matches. In pre-quarters, Anil Mor, who was a part of the 55kg weight class, lost 8-0 to four-time world champion and current world No. 1 Eldaniz Azizli of Azerbaijan. Aman, India's representative in the men's 77 kg category, lost by 8-0 (technical superiority) to Japan's Olympic champion Nao Kusaka in the round of 32. World Wrestling Championships 2025: Aman Sehrawat, Antim Panghal Headline Indian Team.
In the men's 82 kg division, Rahul managed to earn a point, but still faced a 7-1 loss to Almir Tolebayev of Kazakhstan in qualification. In the 130 kg category, Sonu also lost in the qualification stages, going down to Olympian Marko Koscevic of Croatia. A total of 30 golds are up for grabs across men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman events. (ANI)
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