Antim crowned world champion

INDIA’s Antim Panghal created history by winning a gold medal in the U-20 World Wrestling Championship in Bulgaria’s Sofia. She has become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the competition’s 34-year long history.

Hailing from Haryana, the 17-year-old defeated Kazakhstan’s Atlyn Shagayeva 8-0 to be crowned the world junior champion in the 53 Kg category.

India’s two women wrestlers lost in the final and secured silver medals while two others won bronze medal bouts. With this, the Indian Junior Women Wrestling Team clinched the runner-up trophy with 160 points.

The campaign is India’s most successful tournament as they ended with 1 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze medals. Out of the 16 medals, seven came in the men’s freestyle category while the women matched them with as many medals. Two other medals came in the Greco-Roman category. ‘Our wrestlers make us proud again! Congratulations to our team on winning 16 medals at the U20 World Championships. This is India’s best-ever performance. It also shows the future of Indian wrestling is in safe hands!’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.