Wrestling Worlds: Antim Panghal stopped in semis, bronze in sight
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Antim Panghal shocked reigning champion Olivia Dominique Parrish en route to the World Championships semifinals, but the young grappler’s giant-killing run was halted in the last-four stage, leaving her fighting for a bronze medal and a Paris Olympics quota place.
Antim lost her 53kg semifinal bout 4-5 to Vanesa Kaladzinskaya. The Indian can earn an Olympics quota even if she finishes fifth by winning the bout between the losers of the bronze medal contest.
Against USA’s Parrish, two-time U20 champion Antim slipped to a 0-2 deficit at the start of the bout but edged her rival 3-2 in the opening round.
She later outplayed Roksana Marta Zasina by technical superiority and followed it up with a 9-6 win over Natalia Malysheva.
However, Manisha (62kg), Priyanka (68kg) and Jyoti Berwal (72kg) have lost their bouts and exited the tournament.