India’s young wrestling star Antim Panghal delivered a strong and determined performance at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships. She secured a bronze medal in the women’s 53 kg freestyle category. This also opened India’s medal tally at this year’s tournament held at Arena Zagreb, Croatia.
The 21-year-old from Haryana defeated Sweden’s Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren with a commanding 9–1 score in the bronze medal bout. She repeated her 2023 feat, where she also beat Malmgren to claim bronze. This is her second consecutive medal at the senior World Championships. “I was focused and determined not to let the opportunity slip,” Panghal said after the match. “This medal is for my coaches, my family, and the country.”
Panghal’s path to the podium was challenging. She lost in the quarterfinals to Lucía Yépez of Ecuador, who went on to win the silver medal. This defeat pushed Panghal into the repechage rounds. She made the most of this second chance by winning successive bouts to reach the bronze medal match.
The victory is particularly significant for Panghal. She had a disappointing outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, exiting early. This podium finish marks a strong comeback. It also cements her status as one of India’s most consistent and promising wrestlers on the global stage. With this win, Antim Panghal joins the ranks of Indian greats like Vinesh Phogat. She becomes one of the few Indian women wrestlers to win multiple medals at the World Championships.
The women’s 53 kg category at the 2025 Worlds featured 23 athletes from 21 countries. Japan’s Haruna Murayama won the gold medal. Ecuador’s Lucía Yépez took silver. The other bronze went to North Korea’s Choe Hyo-gyong. Other Indian wrestlers, including Manisha Bhanwala in the 62 kg category, missed out on podium finishes. Still, Panghal’s medal provides a morale boost to the Indian team.
This bronze not only improves India’s standing at the World Championships but also strengthens Panghal’s prospects for major future events. She will aim to build on her success at the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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