Antim, girl who sent Vinesh to 50kg, out in 101 seconds

Rohit Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Paris, August 7

Antim Panghal, considered the inheritor of the legacy of the mighty Vinesh, considered the girl who would be new queen of Indian wrestling, walked away from the mats, her round face awash with tears that just wold not stop. Antim Panghal could yet be the queen, but now is not her time.

Antim is the girl who caused Vinesh to move down to the 50kg weight category. Vinesh had lost to the relatively unknown Anju in the 53kg class at the selection trials for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympics qualifier in March. Antim made it through, and then qualified for the Paris Olympics when she got the opportunity. Vinesh had no option but to move down to the 50kg class.

Antim, 20 on the 31st of this month, was considered India’s best hope in women’s wrestling in Paris — with a high seeding, fourth, in the 53k class, it was expected that she would not be faced with a strong wrestler in the first round.

In the event, Antim lost in 101 seconds to Turkiye’s Zeynep Yetgil. Before Antim could size up Zeynep, the Turkish wrestler was behind her, and on top — 2-0 in the first few seconds. Zeynep wrapped her arms around Antim and flipped her over — two more points. The Indians in the crowed waved their flags, shouted at the teenager to rouse her — but it was Zeynep who seemed to be getting more fired up. Zeynep flipped Antim once again, taking her out of the mat.

Antim seemed overawed — she seemed to be waiting to hit Zeynep on the counter, she did not go on the offensive by going for her ankles. They grappled, and then Zeynep got to Antim’s right, twisted her left leg around Antim’s right and threw her down on her side. More points and Antim in deep trouble — on her chest, Zeynep straddling her back, her arms around Antim’s waist. Then, with a mighty effort, Zeynep again flipped Antim — 10-0, and the bout went to the woman from Turkiye through technical superiority.

Antim lay on her back for a few moments before getting back on her feet.

Later in the afternoon, her Olympics were over when Zeynip was pinned by Germany’s Annika Wendle in the second round. Antim, thus had no opportunity to advance to a medal round through repechage.

Thus ended the first Olympics of Antim, the girl who took Vinesh’s 53kg mantle and sent her down to the 50kg class.

Antim’s sister detained by police in Paris

There was more bad news from the Indian wrestling camp when Antim Panghal’s sister was detained by the police here after she tried to enter the Athletes Village using Antim’s accreditation card. Antim was summoned by the police following the incident, it is learnt. Antim, it is claimed, asked her sister to collect her belongings at her room after she checked out of her room at the Athletes Village.