India’s wrestling contingent secured four medals on the fourth day of the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial in Budapest. Kajal Dhochak claimed gold in the women’s 76kg division, while Antim Panghal (53kg) and Neha Sharma (57kg) earned silver medals. Nishu added a bronze in the 53kg category to round out the day’s podium finishes.
Kajal Dhochak and Women’s Freestyle Performance
Kajal Dhochak, the reigning U20 world champion, secured the gold medal in the women’s 76kg category after a tactical victory against former Pan American champion Dymond Guilford of the USA. The bout ended 3-3, with Dhochak winning on criteria. Her path to the final included a dominant 9-0 semifinal win over former European champion Alexandra Anghel of Romania and a 3-0 victory against China’s Shuiyan Cheng.
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Antim Panghal’s Tournament Run and Injury Withdrawal
Antim Panghal, a member of India’s 2026 Asian Games wrestling team, demonstrated significant form throughout the tournament. Before reaching the final, the 21-year-old recorded three consecutive 10-0 technical superiority victories against Germany’s Bianka Fath, China’s Li Yuxuan, and the USA’s Cristelle Rodriguez. In a high-stakes semifinal, Panghal defeated reigning Asian champion Zhang Jin 7-5, overcoming a lengthy pin attempt. However, she was forced to withdraw from the gold medal match against Sweden’s Emma Malmgren due to injury, resulting in a silver medal finish.
Silver and Bronze Success for Sharma and Nishu
Neha Sharma earned silver in the 57kg division after falling to Olympic medallist Hong Kexin of China in the final. Sharma’s tournament trajectory included a 4-0 semifinal win over Brazil’s Giullia Penalber and a 6-1 quarterfinal victory against Pan American champion Amanda Martinez.
Nishu’s path to the 53kg bronze was earned through the repechage system. After losing to Emma Malmgren in the round of 16, she rebounded to defeat Canada’s Madison Parks. Nishu then secured the bronze by edging Olympian Andreea Beatrice Ana of Romania 2-2 on criteria.
Additional Results and Future Outlook
Other Indian competitors faced challenges in the medal rounds. Priya Malik lost 5-3 to China’s Wenji Li in the 76kg bronze medal bout. In Greco-Roman competition, Anil finished without a medal after a 5-2 loss to Georgia’s Mishiko Aleksandria in the 72kg bronze match. Sunil Kumar, a former Asian champion, was eliminated in the 87kg round of 16 following a 5-3 defeat to Croatia’s Matej Mandić.
The tournament concludes on Sunday with Greco-Roman events in the 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 82kg, 97kg, and 130kg categories. India’s roster for the final day includes Nitesh Kumar, Lalit, Chetan, Sumit, Sunny Kumar, Prince, and Deepanshu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial?
It is a prominent international wrestling tournament held in Budapest, serving as part of the Ranking Series that helps wrestlers improve their global standing. - Who are the key Indian wrestlers to watch on the final day?
The squad includes Asian Games-bound athlete Nitesh Kumar (97kg) and several others competing in the Greco-Roman divisions.
Follow the official UWW (United World Wrestling) website for real-time bracket updates and official tournament results as the competition season progresses.
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