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Having bounced again in 2025 by successful her second consecutive bronze medal within the World championships in Zagreb, Croatia, wrestler Antim Panghal (53kg) has managed to go away behind her forgettable outing within the Paris Olympics final yr and make a brand new begin.
With a busy calendar awaiting her in 2026, the 21-year-old, a former two-time World under-20 champion and an Asian Video games bronze medallist, is eager to lift her sport and enhance the color of her medals sooner or later. She can be eager to hold on her good work and realise her potential by medalling within the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Antim spoke to The Hindu about her uncommon Worlds medal and the upcoming challenges.
Excerpts:
How was the time after the Paris Olympics (which was not a great outing for you)? How did you get well and make a comeback?
After the Olympics, I had a knee harm. My physiotherapist obtained it handled for a month and a half. After that, he obtained me on the mat. He mentioned, first it’s important to get the harm handled. After getting it handled, I obtained a full rehab carried out. Everybody supported me loads.
Inform us about your teaching workers now?
After Paris, my teaching set-up has developed. I now prepare primarily with the coaches at Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) Hisar. When I’m referred to as for nationwide coaching camps, my programme continues with out interruption — the nationwide coaches cooperate carefully and guarantee alignment.
In fact, it may be difficult at occasions as a result of each coach has their very own type and space of experience. However we preserve common communication between the SAI coaches and the nationwide camp workers, which actually helps in preserving my coaching constant and efficient.
We noticed your efficiency within the World championships. How do you price it since you had already gained a bronze medal earlier?
2024 didn’t go so nicely for me. After that, I needed to win a medal within the World championships. I ready loads, educated loads.
Everybody supported me. My mother and father, my siblings, JSW and my supervisor supported me loads.
Which was probably the most troublesome medal within the two World championships?
It was troublesome to medal in each World championships. It was not simple. I needed to work laborious in each. After I fought for the primary time (in 2023), I didn’t have a medal within the World championships. I had not even competed within the Worlds earlier than that. This time, I had somewhat expertise.
Vinesh gained two bronze medals within the World championships. And now you, too, have two. You’re the solely two Indian ladies to take action. How do you’re feeling about it?
Vinesh was an excellent wrestler. She struggled loads. She has two medals. I even have two medals. If I prepare loads, I’ll get extra medals.
The Nationwide championship is going on in Ahmedabad in December. It’s usually seen that well-known wrestlers don’t compete within the Nationwide championships. What’s the purpose for that? Are you collaborating this yr?
Sure, I’m competing. There’s nothing like well-known wrestlers skipping the occasion. Senior nationals is the most important occasion in India. Typically, somebody will get injured after the competitors. So, they’ll’t participate.
What’s your goal for subsequent yr? There can be World championships, Asian Video games and Asian Championships. How are you planning for these?
My focus is on the Asian Video games. I need to give my 100 per cent in that. There’s additionally a World championship earlier than that. I’ve to arrange nicely for that. There can be loads of competitions. There are three main competitions. Individuals who assist me make plans for me. They inform me what I’ve to do. I do every thing in accordance with that.
Los Angeles 2028 is 2 and a half years away. What are your plans for that?
I’m getting ready for every thing, together with the Olympics. For each wrestler, the primary competitors is the Olympics. We don’t get that many medals within the Olympics. We get one or two medals in wrestling. So, I need to get extra medals.
How a lot physique weight do you preserve? Are you planning to alter your physique weight?
No, my weight is ok. Everybody stays two-three kg greater than their weight class. So, my weight is ok (for my 53kg class).
How has JSW’s assist helped?
They gave me a job, a supervisor. They care for every thing. JSW conducts camps and they’re useful. I attended a world coaching camp at Shigakkan College in Japan, organised collectively by JSW and the Wrestling Federation of India. We additionally travelled to some different universities to coach with totally different teams of wrestlers. It was an ideal expertise — I obtained to coach with a few of the high Japanese wrestlers and the setting was very supportive. I even reviewed my semifinal bout with their coaches, who helped me perceive new technical particulars and the areas the place I wanted to enhance. General, the camp was a serious studying expertise for me, particularly with the deal with getting ready for the 2026 season together with the Asian Video games.
The PWL can be relaunched ahead of later. How huge a possibility is that?
All the highest wrestlers in India will participate. Some will come from overseas. It’s a good likelihood to combat with everybody firstly of the yr. Will probably be a great competitors for everybody.
When you’ll be in a group with international wrestlers, how will it assist your sport and total persona?
After I went out for coaching, I obtained to know the way the wrestlers over there prepare earlier than a bout. If I can be in a PWL group, I’ll get to know extra about totally different wrestlers in my group. I’ll get to understand how they eat and put together. Will probably be very useful for me.
By which areas of your sport do you want to enhance?
I should deal with my mat work, conditioning. I should see who’s doing what, the place I’m missing. My coaches inform me the place I’ve to assault, the place I’ve to defend. We watch movies of the bouts to grasp the place to assault and the place to defend.
Ladies’s wrestling has turn into very aggressive in our nation. How good is it for India?
If there may be loads of competitors right here, everybody provides her finest and prepares nicely. It helps in combating nicely overseas and successful medals.
Printed – November 27, 2025 12:02 am IST
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