Paris Olympics 2024: Antim Panghal falls in women's 53kg to Turkiye's Yetgil Zeynep; hopes rest on repechage

Published at :August 7, 2024 at 6:29 PM

Modified at :August 7, 2024 at 6:29 PM

(Courtesy : UWW)

Sudden defeat for young star leaves India searching for redemption through repechage.

India’s hopes for an Paris Olympics 2024 wrestling medal took a big hit on Wednesday when Antim Panghal lost her match in just under two minutes. Panghal, competing in the women’s 53kg weight class, was defeated by Turkiye’s Yetgil Zeynep with a score of 0-10.

This loss comes right after another setback for Indian wrestling, as Vinesh Phogat was earlier disqualified for weighing too much. Panghal had stepped in to fill Phogat’s shoes in this weight class, making her defeat even more disappointing for Team India.

The match was over quickly, with Zeynep dominating from start to finish. She scored points rapidly, first by pinning Panghal to the mat, then by flipping her over twice. The referee stopped the match when Zeynep got a 10-point lead, a rule known as “Technical Superiority” in wrestling.

Panghal, who had recently earned a spot to compete at the Olympics, was left in tears after the match. It was clear she felt the weight of India’s hopes on her shoulders.

But it’s not all over yet. There’s still a small chance for Panghal to fight for a medal. If Zeynep makes it to the final match of the tournament, Panghal will get another shot in what’s called the “repechage” rounds. These are like second-chance matches for wrestlers who lost to the finalists.

Paris Olympics 2024: Antim Panghal falls in women's 53kg to Turkiye's Yetgil Zeynep; hopes rest on repechage

Sudden defeat for young star leaves India searching for redemption through repechage.

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