How Antim got back on the track

Confident in her moves, sharp in attack, and resilient in defence, Antim Panghal was back to her best at the World Championships in Zagreb.

- Avishek Roy

The 2I-year-old clinched her second bronze at the prestigious event, beating Swede Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren in dominant fashion. More importantly, the performance has revived the career of one of India’s finest wrestlers after the setback and controversy surrounding her Paris Olympics campaign.

A day after her podium, national women’s chief coach Virender Dahiya on Friday reminded Antim that her journey to the 2028 LA Olympics had only just begun. “I told her an Olympic medal takes hard work, patience, and discipline. There’s no doubt she is our best talent, and she proved it here. But she must stay focused and avoid distractions,” Dahiya told HT from Zagreb.