On Thursday, Indian wrestler Antim Panghal, competing in her first senior World Championships, defeated Swedish champion and European champion Jonna Malmgren in the 53 kg division to secure a bronze medal and a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The two-time U20 global champion was at the top of her game as she won 16-6 on the basis of technical superiority (TSU), earning her first gold at the senior global Championships.
Panghal defeated current world champion Olivia Dominique Parrish of the US in the qualifying rounds before defeating Roksana Marta Zasina of Poland in the TSU to earn the bronze medal.
Following WFI’s suspension by the world governing body, the 19-year-old athlete from Haryana, who is competing as a neutral athlete, defeated Natalia Malysheva of Russia in the quarterfinal before suffering a heartbreaking loss to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya of Belarus in the semifinal on Wednesday.
