Asian Wrestling Championships 2025: Manisha Bhanwala Strikes Gold, Antim Panghal Claims Bronze
Jordan/Patiala, 29 March (Sports Desk)
At the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 in Amman, Jordan, Manisha Bhanwala captured the gold medal in the women’s 62kg category, defeating Ok J Kim of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 8-7 in a thrilling final on Friday. This victory marked India’s first women’s freestyle wrestling gold at the continental event since Vinesh Phogat and Sarita Mor triumphed in 2021. Meanwhile, Antim Panghal secured a bronze in the 53kg division, adding to India’s medal haul.
Bhanwala’s path to the top began with a technical superiority win over Kazakhstan’s Tynys Dubek. She followed this with a pinfall victory against the Republic of Korea’s Hanbit Lee in the quarter-finals and a 5-1 triumph over Kyrgyzstan’s Kalmira Bilimbek Kyzy, the defending champion, in the semi-finals. Having earned bronze medals from 2022 to 2024, Bhanwala appeared headed for silver in the final, trailing 2-7 against Ok J Kim. However, a stunning late comeback flipped the score to 8-7, securing her the gold.
Returning to international competition after the Paris 2024 Olympics, Antim Panghal kicked off her 53kg campaign with a 10-6 win over China’s Jin Zhang, a World Championships silver medallist. After falling to Japan’s 55kg world champion Moe Kiyooka by technical superiority in the semi-finals, Panghal rebounded with a technical superiority victory over Chinese Taipei’s Meng Hsuan Hsieh to claim bronze.
watch…..Asian Wrestling Championships 2025: Sunil Kumar Kicks Off India’s Campaign with Greco-Roman Bronze
India’s medal count at the championships reached seven with Friday’s results: one gold, one silver, and five bronze. On Thursday, U23 world champion Reetika Hooda earned silver in the women’s 76kg freestyle category. Earlier in the competition, bronze medals were won by Muskan (women’s 59kg), Mansi Lather (women’s 68kg), and Greco-Roman wrestlers Nitesh (97kg) and Sunil Kumar (87kg). Three other Indian wrestlers—Neha Sharma (57kg), Monika (65kg), and Jyoti Berwal (72kg)—competed on Friday but did not medal.
The Indian men’s freestyle team, including Tokyo 2020 Olympian Deepak Punia, will take the mat over the final two days of the tournament, aiming to further boost India’s tally.
