Antim Panghal wins bronze in World Wrestling Championship
A day after losing the Semi-Final, she came back and defeated two-time European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden
Antim Panghal has secured an Olympic quota for India after winning a bronze in the World Wrestling Championship in women’s 53kg freestyle in Belgrade, Serbia on Thursday after defeating two-time European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden.
Antim had started the world championship after defeating reigning world champion Dominique Olivia Parrish in the first round, causing a massive upset. In that match, Antim recovered from 0-2 down with a takedown to make it 2-2 before winning after Parrish lost a point for passivity, a marker of Antim’s defensive qualities.
The 19-year-old Indian wrestler then beat Poland’s Roksana Marta Zasina 10-0 (a victory by technical superiority) in the pre-quarters and then Russia’s Natalia Malysheva 9-6 (a victory by points with technical points) in the quarterfinals. In her semifinal, she lost to Kaladzinskaya who had defeated Vinesh Phogat at the Tokyo Olympics.
Antim felt dejected and was seen crying and in disbelief after what had happened and came on to wrestle the next seeming as if she had cried all night. However, what she achieved in the ring against Jonna Malmgren made tears come out of her eyes yet again but this time it might have been tears of joy as she won the bronze in the World Wrestling Championship and secured a quote for the Paris Olympics.
Antim Panghal beat Emma Malmgren of Sweden
In the Semi-Final Antim Panghal beat Emma Malmgren of Sweden 16 – 6 for a victory by Technical Superiority. Antim took a big 5-0 lead but then Malmgren locked her in a double armbar to make it 5-2 and then a leg hold to make it 5-4. The incredible opening round ended 6-6. She started the second round the way she did the first, rolling her opponent for four quick points before closing out the game for the big win.
While Antim had to wrestle under a neutral flag because of the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the world body, the quota she secured would be allotted to India.
It wasn’t an easy entry into the championships for Antim either who had filed cases in the Delhi High Court over the decision to give a free pass to Vinesh Phogat directly into the championship while Antim was simultaneously training and more importantly winning the trials for the championship which allowed her to feature in the World Wrestling Championship.
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