Synopsis
Antim Panghal has successfully qualified for the Indian wrestling team for the Asian Wrestling Championships by winning the 53 kg freestyle trials. The event will take place in Amman, Jordan, and marks her return after an injury. Other wrestlers are vying for spots as well.Key Takeaways
- Antim Panghal qualifies for Asian Wrestling Championships.
- Event to be held in Amman, Jordan.
- She aims to improve her previous silver medal standing.
- Deepak Punia returns to wrestling in a new weight class.
- Aman Sehrawat withdraws due to injury.
New Delhi, March 15 (NationPress) World Championships medallist Antim Panghal has secured her spot in the Indian wrestling team for the upcoming Asian Wrestling Championships, achieving victory in the 53 kg women’s freestyle trials held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday. These trials, which showcased some of the country’s leading wrestlers, were critical for selecting participants for the first major wrestling event of the year.
The Asian Wrestling Championships are scheduled to occur in Amman, Jordan, later this month, marking Antim's return to the continental stage after missing the last edition due to injury.
In her inaugural event of the year, she faced a relatively straightforward path to qualification, with only three competitors in her category. She convincingly won both of her round-robin matches, ensuring her position on the Indian team.
Antim, who previously earned a silver medal in the last Asian Championships, aims to improve her medal color in Amman. Since then, she has reached significant milestones, such as clinching a World Championships medal (bronze) in 2023 and representing India at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals. With her return, she is set to make a powerful impact on the international wrestling scene. In the 2022 World Championships held in Belgrade, retired wrestler Vinesh Phogat secured a bronze medal in this weight category.
In related news, another World Championships medallist, Deepak Punia, garnered attention by returning to the wrestling arena after an extended hiatus and transitioning to the non-Olympic weight class of 92 kg. Punia commenced his campaign with a dominant victory, followed by a technical superiority win against Aryan in the second round, demonstrating his skills in the new category.
On a different note, India’s 2024 Paris Olympic medallist, Aman Sehrawat, had to withdraw from the trials due to injury, rendering him unavailable for selection in the upcoming championships. Nevertheless, other top Indian wrestlers, including Sujeet Kalkal (65 kg FS), Jaideep (74 kg FS), Udit (61 kg FS), and Reetika (76 kg WW), remain in the running for their places on the national squad.
