Antim Panghal overcomes heartbreak to win Wrestling Worlds bronze, seal Paris Olympics quota

When Antim Panghal walked out for her bronze medal match on the World Championships on Thursday, she nonetheless wore the look that she had on on the finish of her semifinal defeat in opposition to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya. Crying and in disbelief at what had occurred the day earlier than, the 19-year-old got here out to wrestle trying just like the tears hadn’t stopped in a single day. There is a video on social media of the younger wrestler from Hisar, who had not recognized a loss on the Worlds until Wednesday (after two U20 World Championship wins), breaking down in tears and being comforted by her coaches.

But regardless of not recovering from that heartbreak, Panghal took her first senior World Championship bronze medal in Belgrade. She did so by surviving an intense first interval in opposition to Swedish wrestler Jonna Malmgren earlier than taking the two-time European champion into deep waters within the second interval, rising with a 16-6 victory in addition to a quota for the Paris Olympics.

Coming on the again of a second U20 World title, with two home trials – one for the Asian Games and one for the World Championships sandwiched in between – the 53kg wrestler had been subjected to a number of weight cuts earlier than this match even started. Her coaches again in Haryana had advised this paper that the quantity of weight cuts she needed to undergo was leading to small accidents inside her physique – accidents that she had been feeling even earlier than the beginning of this competitors. Yet Panghal selected to be the one Indian wrestler, male or feminine, to be part of each the World Championships and the Asian Games. She did so with the assumption {that a} medal right here would assure her identify because the Indian entrant for the 53kg spot on the Paris Olympics.

𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚 🤩
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬🥉

Antim Panghal of 🇮🇳 produces a high-quality present to clinch the bronze medal within the girls’s 53kg class on the World Wrestling Championships 2023.

The win additionally helps Team India seal a quota place for Paris 2024.#WrestleBelgrade pic.twitter.com/VHBJnnsDEQ

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) September 21, 2023

On Thursday, Panghal started by grabbing Malmgren’s leg inside seconds and incomes a step-out. A degree up, the Indian stepped into Malmgren’s vary and casually displayed her energy by grabbing her opponent’s thigh, turning her inside out to dump her on her again for a four-point play. Eighteen seconds in and it regarded like she was going to make quick work of the Swede. But moments later, tragedy nearly struck.

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The Swede was midway by means of a double-leg takedown however abruptly twisted onto her again with each of Panghal’s arms locked. Now it appeared as if Panghal’s probabilities of a bronze have been undone along with her opponent tightening her lock and nearly pinning her. But the teen struggled exhausting and by some means managed to launch her proper arm from that iron grip, avoiding the autumn, however giving up two factors.

Antim Panghal wins bronze medal at World Wrestling Championship & secures Paris Olympics quota. 🔥❤️
She is simply 19!!
🇮🇳🔥😍#AsianGames2023 #wrestling #antimpanghal #WorldCup2023#WomenEmpowerment #WomenReservationBill pic.twitter.com/xGm6QSR1Od

— Aryan (@SportsAdda13) September 21, 2023

The turning level

And then got here one of many pivotal moments of the match. Malmgren latched onto Panghal’s leg for an additional takedown and didn’t let go. From that place, she turned her over however acquired reversed by the Indian herself. The first interval ended with each wrestlers on 6 factors and never a lot to decide on between them, despite the fact that the Swede had ended the spherical higher. The commentators believed that if the Indians had challenged that final scramble, they may have been awarded two extra factors however that thought by no means arose within the Indian camp.

The second interval was far simpler for Panghal despite the fact that there have been tense moments. Two takedowns and a rollover later, the Indian led 12-6. From that place, the bronze medal was just about assured as she stored her composure and the match moved into an space the place she had the chance to showcase her speciality – counters. Two takedown makes an attempt by Malmgren have been killed after which swiftly countered because the timer wound right down to 0 and the rating was 16-6.

After the match, Panghal laid on the mat, simply as she had after her loss to Kaladzinskaya. She began to cry, simply as she had 24 hours earlier when the Belarusian’s problem was accepted after their bout ended. The solely distinction was that the referee had raised another person’s hand then and on Thursday, Panghal was on prime. Even when her hand was being raised, it was apparent to the 19-year-old, whose senior profession has simply begun, that this wasn’t a bronze medal received however a silver misplaced.