NEW DELHI: India's hopes for a wrestling medal at the Paris Olympics took a major hit as Antim Panghal suffered a 0-10 defeat to Turkey's Yetgil Zeynep in the women's 53kg category on Wednesday. It's another crushing news for India after Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being overweight.
Panghal, who had recently secured an Olympic quota in the category formerly dominated by Vinesh, was overpowered in just 101 seconds during the first round.
The match was concluded by "Technical Superiority," with Zeynep achieving a decisive 10-point lead over Panghal. The Turkish wrestler showed complete dominance throughout the bout, swiftly accumulating points against the Indian competitor.
Zeynep began by pinning Panghal to earn two points, quickly followed by another two. She then executed a double flip to garner four more points and sealed the match with an additional two points. The bout was stopped by the referee, leaving Panghal in tears.
Despite the heavy defeat, Panghal still has a slim hope to compete for a medal. Should Zeynep advance to the final, Panghal will have a chance to participate in the repechage rounds.
Panghal's loss represents a significant setback for India's wrestling campaign, especially as she was viewed as one of the country's leading contenders in the sport.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less