India’s wrestling prodigy Antim Panghal once again showcased her grit and skill at the 2025 Wrestling World Championships, advancing to the semifinals in the women’s 53kg category before falling narrowly to Ecuador’s Olympic silver medallist Lucia Yepez Guzman.
The 19-year-old lost 3–5 in a tense contest, but her campaign is still alive as she will compete for a bronze medal through the repechage route. Antim, a former World Championship bronze medallist and reigning Asian champion, entered this year’s event with high expectations. Wrestling in her natural category, she produced a series of gutsy performances that reaffirmed her status as one of India’s brightest medal hopes.
Antim’s campaign began in explosive fashion. In her opening bout against Spain’s Carla Jaume Soler, she needed just 23 seconds to score a dominant 10–0 technical superiority win. Her attacking intent and sheer speed were too much for her opponent, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
In the quarterfinals, she faced a much sterner test in China’s Zhang Jin, the reigning world silver medallist in the 55kg category and a former junior world champion. The match turned into a high-scoring thriller, with Antim trailing 7–8 in the final seconds. But true to her reputation for late comebacks, she executed a decisive takedown right at the death, snatching a 9–8 victory. That win not only secured her a place in the semifinals but also made her the first Indian wrestler to reach the last four at this edition of the World Championships.
The semifinal heartbreak
Standing between Antim and her first World Championship final was Ecuador’s Lucia Yepez Guzman, an Olympic silver medallist renowned for her physical power and defensive resilience. The bout was a cagey affair, with both wrestlers reluctant to give away early points. Antim looked to work from her low attacks, but Yepez’s strength in counters kept her at bay. The Ecuadorian gradually edged ahead, capitalising on small openings and defending stoutly against Antim’s late surge.
In the closing seconds, the Indian pressed hard for a turnaround, but Yepez held firm to win 5–3. It was a narrow defeat that left Antim visibly disappointed, but her performance against such a decorated opponent highlighted her growing maturity on the mat.
All is not lost for the young Indian. By virtue of Yepez reaching the final, Antim will get another shot at a medal in the bronze medal match. She will face the winner of the repechage clash between Sweden’s Emma Malmgren and Cuba’s Laura Herin Avila. For Antim, who already owns a World Championship bronze from 2023, a second podium finish at this level would further establish her credentials as one of India’s leading hopes heading into the Olympic cycle.
Another Indian in the fray: Manisha in repechage
India’s campaign in the women’s events also saw Manisha, the reigning Asian champion in the 62kg category, enter the repechage. After losing in the earlier rounds, she now has the chance to fight for bronze as well. Her task, however, is formidable – she faces former world champion Taybe Yusein Dudova of Bulgaria in her repechage bout.
While Antim has been India’s standout performer, it was a day of contrasting fortunes for the rest of the women’s squad. Priya Malik, who had raised expectations with her aggressive style in earlier tournaments, fell short in her bronze medal match, losing tamely in what was described as a “no contest.” The defeat highlighted the increasing physical dominance of Latin American wrestlers, with the likes of Yepez and Genesis Reasco Valdez proving particularly difficult to match.
Antim’s rise continues
Despite the semifinal setback, Antim’s campaign has underlined her rapid growth on the international stage. At just 19, she has already established herself among the world’s elite, capable of challenging Olympic medallists and World Championship finalists. Her ability to fight back from tough situations was on full display against Zhang Jin. Few wrestlers at her age show the composure to deliver a winning move under immense pressure, but Antim’s late takedown proved she thrives in clutch moments.
Her style combining sharp technical attacks with relentless energy has made her a difficult opponent to contain. While she still needs to add more variety against physically stronger rivals like Yepez, her trajectory remains steeply upward.
As Antim prepares for her bronze medal bout, the focus will be on recovery and tactical adjustment. A podium finish would mean her second World Championship medal in three years, a remarkable achievement for someone so young. For India, Antim’s rise is symbolic of a new wave in women’s wrestling. With Vinesh Phogat’s career at a crossroads and other seniors struggling for consistency, Antim has become the flagbearer of the next generation. Her performances in Tashkent reaffirm India’s place among the wrestling powerhouses, even in a transitional phase.
Antim Panghal’s journey at the 2025 Wrestling World Championships has been a mix of brilliance and heartbreak. From her 23-second demolition of Carla Soler, to her last-second heroics against Zhang Jin, and finally a fighting loss to Olympic medallist Yepez Guzman, she has displayed the grit and talent that mark champions. The bronze medal bout still awaits, offering her the chance to end the tournament on the podium. Whatever the outcome, Antim’s performances have once again reminded the world that she is not just India’s future she is already among the best in the present.
