In a significant setback for Indian wrestling, Antim Panghal, one of the country’s most promising wrestlers, has been ruled out of the upcoming trials for the Asian Championships due to a back injury.

Antim Panghal’s injury

Panghal, who has been a key figure in the Indian wrestling circuit, suffered a fall at her home which resulted in a back injury. The injury is reported to be a muscle strain, which is expected to take around 15-20 days to heal. Following the doctor’s advice, Panghal will be resting and will be out of action until the end of March.

Only a few days are left for the upcoming trials for the Asian Championships and the continental Olympics qualifiers, and Antim will be missing both of them. The Arjuna Awardee need not compete in the Qualifiers for the Paris Games as she already reserved a quota by earning a bronze medal at the World Championships last year.

However, the Asain Championship involves World Class Japanese Wrestlers and provides perfect practice ahead of the Summer event.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has shown understanding towards Panghal’s situation. Recognizing her talent and contribution to the sport, the WFI has tentatively agreed to conduct a separate trial for Panghal once she recovers. This will allow her to compete against the winner of the trials at a later date.

While this is undoubtedly a blow to the Indian wrestling team, it also underscores the importance of athletes’ health and well-being. Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports, and athletes must be given the necessary time and support to recover.

The Asian Championships will certainly miss the presence of Antim Panghal, but fans across the country will be eagerly waiting for her return to the mat.

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