In the opening round of the women’s 53kg match against the American, Antim Panghal defeated her opponent 3-2 despite falling behind early (0-2).
As other Indian competitors in Belgrade Wednesday failed in their respective categories, Antim Panghal stunned defending champion Olivia Dominique Parrish on the way to the World Championship semifinals, bolstering chances of securing a quota for the Paris Olympics. In the opening round of the women’s 53kg match against the American, two-time U20 champion Panghal trailed 0-2 at the outset but prevailed 3-2. Later, she outperformed Polish competitor Roksana Marta Zasina with her technical prowess before defeating Russian competitor Natalia Malysheva, who is competing as a neutral athlete, 9-6.
A right-leg attack from the American’s side prompted a swift takedown manoeuvre. Unfazed, the 19-year-old Indian started to play solid defence and stopped two tries that were similar, not giving up any more points till the first period’s end.
Panghal continued to play good defence, preventing Parrish from making any offensive moves, which resulted in the American being given time to play.
In order to draw parity, Panghal successfully executed a takedown manoeuvre by grasping the American’s left leg. Although she attempted, she was unable to obtain a leg lace.
By acting passively, the American dropped a point. The match then proceeded to standing wrestling, where Panghal successfully maintained her slim lead to prevail.
In her following round, she defeated Roksana Marta Zasina of Poland by technical superiority in just one minute and 38 seconds, advancing her into the quarterfinals. Panghal finished the fight quickly after executing two takedowns with a flawless leg-lace manoeuvre.
She had a 6-0 lead until the Russian made a comeback in the quarterfinal, taking her down and scoring three straight gut-wrenching points to tie the match at 6-6. Panghal reclaimed the initiative during the counterattack. With a left-leg attack that she used to take down her opponent, she increased her lead. Paghal rejected her opponent with just over 30 seconds left in the fight.
Manisha (62 kg), Priyanka (68 kg), and Jyoti Berwal (72 kg), on the other hand, lost their matches and were eliminated from the competition.
Without earning an Olympic quota or a medal in a non-Olympic event, all ten men’s freestyle wrestlers have already left the competition.
Given that the wrestling federation is on hiatus, all Indian athletes are competing under the UWW banner.
