Indian wrestler Antim Panghal is set to start her campaign in the women’s 53kg freestyle category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which commences on August 7 at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, France.
Youngest Indian Wrestler at Paris 2024
Antim Panghal, a two-time junior world champion and World Championships medallist, will be the youngest Indian wrestler at this year’s Summer Games. She secured her Olympic quota for India with a bronze medal at the World Championships last year.
Despite losing to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus in the semi-finals, Panghal triumphed over Sweden’s Jonna Malmgren, a two-time European champion, to clinch the bronze.
Favourable draw for Antim Panghal
In the Round of 16, Antim Panghal will face Zeynep Yetgil. Her half of the draw includes Maria Prevolaraki of Greece, Ana Andreea of Romania, and Lucia Yepez Guzman of Ecuador, presenting a relatively easier path to progress.
Stellar 2023 Season for Antim Panghal
Panghal had an outstanding 2023 season, highlighted by her bronze medal at the World Championships. She also secured a silver medal at the Asian Championships in Astana, narrowly losing to Japan’s star wrestler Akari Fujinami.
Additionally, she defended her U-20 world title and earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 in October.
Training and Preparations
Since returning from Hangzhou, Panghal has not competed but was exempted from India’s selection trials for the Asian Wrestling Championships and the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament. She has been training in Europe alongside Vinesh Phogat, who will be competing in the 50kg category.
Tough Competition Ahead
While Antim Panghal has a favourable draw, she will face formidable opponents in the women’s 53kg wrestling event. The key challenge will come from Japan’s Akari Fujinami, the reigning two-time world champion and current Asian Games gold medallist, who boasts an unbeaten streak of over a hundred matches.
Other top contenders include Pang Qianyu of China, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and a two-time world medallist, and Dominique Parrish of the USA, a former world champion. Competitors like Lucía Yépez of Ecuador, Maria Prevolaraki of Greece, Andreea Ana of Romania, and Jonna Malmgren of Sweden will also be significant threats.
Paris 2024 Wrestling Schedule for Antim Panghal
- August 7, Wednesday
- Round of 16: 2:30 PM IST onwards
- Quarter-finals: 4:20 PM IST onwards
- Semi-finals: 10:20 PM IST onwards
- August 8, Thursday
- Repechage: 2:30 PM IST onwards
- August 9, Friday
- Bronze medal match: 12:20 AM IST onwards
- Gold medal match: 12:45 AM IST onwards
With her eyes set on Olympic glory, Antim Panghal’s journey at Paris 2024 promises to be one of the most exciting storylines for Indian wrestling fans.
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