Antim Panghal and Indian Relay Team Face Setbacks at Paris Olympics

At the Paris Olympics, Indian wrestler Antim Panghal faced an early exit from the women’s 53 kg freestyle wrestling competition. Panghal lost in the Round of 16 to Turkey’s Zeynep Yetgil, who won with technical superiority. Yetgil, a bronze medallist at the U23 European Championships, advanced further, giving Panghal a chance to vie for a bronze medal if Yetgil reaches the finals, potentially leading to a repechage opportunity for Panghal on August 8.

Meanwhile, India’s marathon race walk mixed relay team, consisting of Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Goswami, encountered a setback as they were forced to withdraw from the final. Their campaign ended prematurely at the 33.4 km mark due to infractions including loss of contact and bent knee issues. The event saw Spain’s Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez clinch the gold with a time of 2:50:31, while Ecuador and Australia secured silver and bronze.

In javelin throwing, Annu Rani, who holds India’s national record, did not progress to the final rounds. She placed 15th in Group A, missing the qualification mark of 62.00 meters.

Despite these challenges, the Indian athletes remain hopeful for better results as the Paris Olympics continue.