Antim Panghal feels only an Olympic medal can justify her family’s sacrifices for wrestling career
Antim Panghal obtained a Paris 2024 Olympic quota for India in the women’s 53kg with a bronze medal at the World Championships last year.
After winning medals at the World Championships, the Asian Games and securing a Paris 2024 Olympic quota for her country last year, Antim Panghal’s stock in Indian wrestling has skyrocketed.
Regarded only as a rival to Vinesh Phogat in the women’s 53kg division just a year back, the youngster seems to have already replaced her senior compatriot as India’s top draw in the division.
This year, the 19-year-old Indian wrestler, also a two-time under-20 world champion, has set her sights on the ultimate prize - a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Winning an Olympic medal is my dream,” Antim Panghal told the Fit India Champions podcast on Saturday. “It’s a family project and if I can do that I would have reciprocated the sacrifices my parents and sisters made for me.”
Panghal was introduced to wrestling by her elder sister Sarita at the age of 10. The family shifted to Hisar City from their village to support Antim and Ram Niwas Panghal (Antim’s father) also bought a buffalo to ensure his daughter was never short on fresh milk.
“Milk and ghee (clarified butter) became my staples because my parents just would not let me go. Now I am used to them and of course, supplement my meals with fruits, nuts and dalia, roti and vegetables.” Panghal said.
Antim Panghal last competed at the Asian Games in October 2023. She is currently training under the guidance of her coach, Bhagat Singh, with daily training sessions lasting up to eight hours. She is expected to kick off her 2024 season at the Asian Championships in Kyrgyzstan next month.
On what keeps her going all the time, Panghal said she doesn’t need extra motivation to succeed on the international stage. “My parents and my sisters continue to support me and in Bhagat Singh, I have a mentor who not only keeps me on my toes but takes care of every detail in my preparation. I don’t have to look beyond.”
Though a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics is Antim’s goal this season, in the long run, the Indian wrestler said she had ambitions of being the greatest Indian wrestler of all time. “I want people to say that Antim is the ultimate women’s wrestler…and no one (in India) can ever break my records.”
Wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held at the Champ de Mars Arena from August 5 to 11.
India have won a total of seven medals in wrestling at the Olympics. Six medals have come at the last four editions of the Summer Games.