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.
