BUDAPEST [HUNGARY], Indian wrestlers Antim Panghal and Anshu Malik won silver medals in their respective matches at the Polík Imre and Varga Janos Memorial 2024 wrestling tournament in Budapest, while top wrestler Vinesh Phogat lost.
Panghal suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sweden's Jonna Malmgren in the final of the women's 53kg category. The 19-year-old Indian sealed her place in the summit clash by defeating 2021 World Championship bronze medalist Katarzyna Krawczyk 3-1.
Anshu Malik, who secured the Paris 2024 Olympics quota for India, had to settle for a silver medal after losing 1-12 to Kexin Hong.
Anshu entered the final by defeating current world champion Qi Zhang of China 2-1 in the semi-finals. She defeated former world champion Anastasia Nichita of Moldova 6-5 in a tense quarters clash.
However, two-time World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat suffered a 5-0 defeat to China's Jiang Zhu in the quarterfinals of the women's 50 kg weight category and could not make it to the repechage round.
So far, India has secured three silver medals at the Budapest Ranking Series, including that of Aman Sehrawat, who won a medal in the men's 57kg freestyle on Thursday.
The 2023 Asian champion lost 1-11 to former world champion and Rio 2016 Olympics silver medalist Rei Higuchi of Japan in the men's 57kg final at the Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series.
The current tournament is the final wrestling ranking series before the Paris 2024 Olympics. Wrestlers will earn points in the competition, which will determine their ranking. The rankings will ultimately determine the seeding of wrestlers who have secured Olympic quotas for the upcoming Summer Games.
So far, India has secured a total of six quotas for the Paris 2024 Olympics – five in women's wrestling and one in men's freestyle.
Panghal suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sweden's Jonna Malmgren in the final of the women's 53kg category. The 19-year-old Indian sealed her place in the summit clash by defeating 2021 World Championship bronze medalist Katarzyna Krawczyk 3-1.
Anshu Malik, who secured the Paris 2024 Olympics quota for India, had to settle for a silver medal after losing 1-12 to Kexin Hong.
Anshu entered the final by defeating current world champion Qi Zhang of China 2-1 in the semi-finals. She defeated former world champion Anastasia Nichita of Moldova 6-5 in a tense quarters clash.
However, two-time World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat suffered a 5-0 defeat to China's Jiang Zhu in the quarterfinals of the women's 50 kg weight category and could not make it to the repechage round.
So far, India has secured three silver medals at the Budapest Ranking Series, including that of Aman Sehrawat, who won a medal in the men's 57kg freestyle on Thursday.
The 2023 Asian champion lost 1-11 to former world champion and Rio 2016 Olympics silver medalist Rei Higuchi of Japan in the men's 57kg final at the Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series.
The current tournament is the final wrestling ranking series before the Paris 2024 Olympics. Wrestlers will earn points in the competition, which will determine their ranking. The rankings will ultimately determine the seeding of wrestlers who have secured Olympic quotas for the upcoming Summer Games.
So far, India has secured a total of six quotas for the Paris 2024 Olympics – five in women's wrestling and one in men's freestyle.
