Antim Panghal wins Asian Games wrestling silver, loses 53 kg final 1-9 to Japan's Mao Kioka
India's Antim Panghal took silver in the women's 53 kg category at the 2026 Asian Games after a 1-9 loss to Japan's Mao Kioka in the final.
Star Indian wrestler Antim Panghal won a silver medal for the country at the 2026 Asian Games. In the final of the women's 53 kg category she faced Japan's Mao Kioka and lost 1-9. In the fight for gold, she could not answer the Japanese wrestler's challenge.
Kioka took a 2-0 lead in the first period. Panghal tried to fight back, but injured her leg in the second period. The injury added to her discomfort, and Kioka used it to pile up points. Panghal could not score a single point in the first period. The Japanese wrestler dominated the second period too, adding 7 points. Panghal got no chance to return to the contest, and the final score was 1-9. The chance of winning gold slipped away and she had to settle for silver.
Panghal's run to the final had been impressive. She beat Kazakhstan's Shugayla Omirbek 9-0. She then defeated Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosinova 8-0. In the semifinal she faced China's Zhang Jin. After losing an early lead, Panghal made a superb comeback and won that bout 6-1 to reach the final.
With Panghal's silver, India now have six medals in wrestling at these Games. Indian wrestlers have so far won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Earlier, Aman Sehrawat won gold in the men's 57 kg category. Sujeet also won gold in the men's 65 kg freestyle.
After Panghal's medal, India's overall medal tally has risen to 84, including 20 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. Despite the loss in the final, Panghal's tournament was strong, with three wins taking her to the final.
