Star wrestlers Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala shined at the recent World Wrestling Championships trials, securing their spots, alongside a breakthrough performance from Vaishnavi Patil.
Antim Panghal Books Her Spot with Ease
Paris Olympian Antim Panghal had a dominant day in the 53kg category trials at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. She faced little resistance, effortlessly securing her berth for the upcoming World Wrestling Championships.
Antim, already a bronze medalist from the last World Championship, showcased her skill. She defeated Pooja in the semi-finals, with her signature ‘fitle’ move even causing an injury to her opponent. In the final, she continued her strong performance, besting Hinaben to confirm her second appearance at the prestigious tournament.
Coming off two recent Ranking Series wins, the 20-year-old is expected to be a top-seeded Indian wrestler. Antim also addressed her controversial exit from the Paris Olympics last year, clarifying that her accreditation issue was due to “confusion” and a lack of experience with the Olympic environment, not a deliberate misuse.
Manisha Bhanwala and Other Qualifiers
Recently crowned Asian Champion Manisha Bhanwala also secured her place, defeating Mansi Ahlawat 2-1 in the 62kg category final. Her victory adds another strong contender to the Indian squad.
In other categories, Ankush claimed the 50kg spot, while Priya Malik overcame a tough challenge from Kiran to win the 76kg category. Unfortunately, Nisha Dahiya’s return from injury in the 68kg category was cut short, as she lost to Radhika, who ultimately won the section.
Vaishnavi Patil’s Emotional Breakthrough
Perhaps the most heartwarming story of the day belonged to Vaishnavi Patil from Maharashtra. After years of falling short in trials, she finally had her breakthrough moment in the 65kg class.
Vaishnavi showed incredible resilience, first coming back from a 0-4 deficit to win 10-6 against Freedom Yadav. She then sealed her ticket to the championships by defeating Haryana’s Muskan 7-2. An ecstatic Vaishnavi shared that this win felt like all her hard work was finally paying off, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Road to the World Championships
The qualified Indian wrestlers will now prepare for the World Championships, scheduled to take place from September 13th to 21st in Zagreb, Croatia. According to Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh, the grapplers will participate in a preparatory camp 15 days before the tournament.
- Antim Panghal secured her spot in the 53kg category.
- Manisha Bhanwala qualified in the 62kg category.
- Vaishnavi Patil celebrated her first major breakthrough, winning the 65kg category.
- Other qualifiers include Ankush (50kg), Radhika (68kg), and Priya Malik (76kg).
- The World Championships will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, from September 13-21.
The selected squad represents a blend of seasoned talent and exciting new prospects, ready to make their mark on the global stage.
