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

Coming on the back of a second U20 World title, with two domestic trials – one for the Asian Games and one for the World Championships sandwiched in between – the 53kg wrestler had been subjected to multiple weight cuts before this tournament even began. Her coaches back in Haryana had told this paper that the amount of weight cuts she had to go through was resulting in small injuries within her body – injuries that she had been feeling even before the start of this competition. Yet Panghal chose to be the only Indian wrestler, male or female, to be a part of both the World Championships and the Asian Games. She did so with the belief that a medal here would guarantee her name as the Indian entrant for the 53kg spot at the Paris Olympics.

𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚 🤩
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬🥉

Antim Panghal of 🇮🇳 produces a fine show to clinch the bronze medal in the women’s 53kg category at the World Wrestling Championships 2023.

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

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) September 21, 2023

On Thursday, Panghal began by grabbing Malmgren’s leg within seconds and earning a step-out. A point up, the Indian stepped into Malmgren’s range and casually displayed her power by grabbing her opponent’s thigh, turning her inside out to dump her on her back for a four-point play. Eighteen seconds in and it looked like she was going to make short work of the Swede. But moments later, tragedy almost struck.

The Swede was halfway through a double-leg takedown but suddenly twisted onto her back with both of Panghal’s arms locked. Now it seemed as if Panghal’s chances of a bronze were undone with her opponent tightening her lock and almost pinning her. But the youngster struggled hard and somehow managed to release her right arm from that iron grip, avoiding the fall, but giving up two points.

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

— Aryan (@SportsAdda13) September 21, 2023

The turning point

And then came one of the pivotal moments of the match. Malmgren latched onto Panghal’s leg for another takedown and didn’t let go. From that position, she turned her over but got reversed by the Indian herself. The first period ended with both wrestlers on 6 points and not much to choose between them, even though the Swede had ended the round better. The commentators believed that if the Indians had challenged that last scramble, they could have been awarded two more points but that thought never arose in the Indian camp.

The second period was far easier for Panghal even though there were tense moments. Two takedowns and a rollover later, the Indian led 12-6. From that position, the bronze medal was virtually assured as she kept her composure and the match moved into an area where she had the opportunity to showcase her speciality – counters. Two takedown attempts by Malmgren were killed and then swiftly countered as the timer wound down to 0 and the score was 16-6.

After the match, Panghal laid on the mat, just as she had after her loss to Kaladzinskaya. She started to cry, just as she had 24 hours earlier when the Belarusian’s challenge was accepted after their bout ended. The only difference was that the referee had raised someone else’s hand then and on Thursday, Panghal was on top. Even when her hand was being raised, it was obvious to the 19-year-old, whose senior career has just begun, that this wasn’t a bronze medal won but a silver lost.