The 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship witnessed a historic moment for Indian wrestling as Manisha clinched India’s first gold medal in women’s wrestling in four years.
Competing in the 65kg category, she delivered a stunning performance, defeating Kim Ok-Ju of North Korea 8-7 in a nail-biting final.
This gold medal was not only India’s first of the tournament but also a much-needed triumph in women’s wrestling, where India had struggled to secure a top podium finish in recent years.
Along with Manisha’s gold, Antim bagged a bronze in the 53kg category, marking a successful day for Indian wrestling.
Manisha’s Road to Glory in 65kg
Quarterfinals: Victory by Fall
Manisha started her campaign with an emphatic quarterfinal win over South Korea’s Lee. She dominated the bout, securing a 3-0 victory by fall, setting the tone for a strong run in the tournament.
Semifinals: Overcoming Kyrgyzstan’s Kyzy
In the semifinal match, Manisha displayed remarkable composure, defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Kyzy 5-1. Her technical superiority and defensive strength ensured her passage to the gold medal match.
Finals: Thrilling Last-Second Win Over Kim
Facing North Korea’s Kim Ok-Ju in the gold medal match, Manisha was pushed to the limit. The bout remained intense throughout, with both wrestlers exchanging points. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Manisha executed a brilliant takedown, sealing an 8-7 victory and clinching the gold medal for India.
This was a historic moment, as it ended India’s four-year drought in women’s wrestling at the Asian Championships.
Manisha’s Recent Medal Streak at the Asian Championships:
• 🥉 2024 Asian Championships – Bronze
• 🥉 2023 Asian Championships – Bronze
• 🥉 2022 Asian Championships – Bronze
Now, with a gold medal to her name, Manisha has established herself as a dominant force in the Asian wrestling circuit.
Antim Clinches Bronze in 53kg
While Manisha secured gold, Antim added to India’s tally with a bronze medal in the 53kg category. She showcased her technical prowess and resilience throughout the tournament.
Quarterfinals: Hard-Fought Victory Against China’s Zhang
In a thrilling quarterfinal bout, Antim overcame China’s Zhang 10-6, displaying excellent attacking skills.
Semifinals: Tough Loss Against Japan’s Moe Kiyooka
In the semifinals, Antim faced a dominant Moe Kiyooka from Japan, who overpowered her with technical superiority, winning 10-0. The loss pushed Antim into the bronze medal match.
Bronze Medal Match: Commanding Victory Over Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh
Antim bounced back strongly in the bronze medal bout, demolishing Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh 10-0 by technical superiority. This ensured India’s second medal of the tournament.
Mixed Results for Other Indian Wrestlers
While Manisha and Antim’s performances were the highlights of the day, other Indian wrestlers had mixed results:
• Neha Sharma (57kg)
• Won her qualification match against Kazakhstan’s Raimova (8-1)
• Lost in the quarterfinals to China’s Hong (0-10)
• Monika (65kg)
• Lost her qualification bout to China’s Zhang (0-10)
• Jyoti (72kg)
• Lost in the qualification round to Japan’s Furuichi (2-3)
While these losses were disappointing, India’s overall performance in the women’s category showed promise.
With the men’s freestyle wrestling events set to begin tomorrow, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is optimistic about adding more medals to the tally.
Recap of India’s Performance at the 2024 Asian Championships
At the 2024 edition, India had secured 4 silver and 5 bronze medals, but no gold. Some of last year’s medalists included:
Men’s Freestyle
• 🥈 Udit (57kg) – Silver
• 🥉 Abhimanyu (70kg) – Bronze
• 🥉 Vicky Chahar (97kg) – Bronze
Women’s Freestyle
• 🥉 Shivani Pawar (50kg) – Bronze
• 🥈 Anju Kumari (53kg) – Silver
• 🥉 Manisha Bhanwala (62kg) – Bronze
• 🥉 Antim Kundu (65kg) – Bronze
• 🥈 Radhika Jaglan (68kg) – Silver
• 🥈 Harshita Mor (72kg) – Silver
This year, Manisha’s gold medal has already ensured a better performance for India, with hopes for more podium finishes in the coming days.
What’s Next?
With the men’s freestyle wrestling competition starting tomorrow, India will look to build on this momentum. Wrestlers like Udit (57kg), Abhimanyu (70kg), and Vicky Chahar (97kg)—who medaled last year—will be in action, hoping to bring home more gold for India.
Conclusion
The 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship has already proven to be a landmark event for Indian women’s wrestling, with Manisha’s gold breaking a four-year drought and Antim adding a bronze. While some wrestlers fell short, India’s overall performance has been commendable.
With the men’s freestyle events set to begin, all eyes will be on the Indian contingent to increase the medal tally and make this a memorable championship for Indian wrestling.
