Antim Panghal wins Asian Games 2026 silver in 53 kg wrestling, loses final 1-9 to Japan
Synopsis
Antim Panghal stepped off the mat with silver rather than gold at the Asian Games 2026, but the 21-year-old's runner-up finish in Nishio is a landmark — she is only the third Indian woman wrestler to reach an Asian Games final, and her back-to-back medals (bronze in Hangzhou, silver in Nagoya) mark her as one of India's most consistent continental-level wrestlers.
Key Takeaways
Antim Panghal won silver in the women's 53 kg wrestling final at the Asian Games 2026 on 3 October , losing 1-9 to Japan's Moe Kiyooka .
She is the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games .
Only the third Indian woman wrestler — after Geetika Jakhar and Vinesh Phogat — to reach an Asian Games wrestling final.
Her silver is her second Asian Games medal , following bronze in the same category at Hangzhou 2022 .
India's wrestling contingent claimed six medals at these Games, with Aman Sehrawat (gold, 57 kg) and Deepak Punia (bronze, 97 kg) also on the podium.
Antim Panghal claimed the silver medal in the women's 53 kg wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nishio on Saturday, 3 October, after going down 1-9 to Japan's Moe Kiyooka in the gold-medal final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center. The result makes Antim the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
How the Final Unfolded
Antim began the bout cautiously against the home favourite, with Kiyooka drawing first blood in front of a packed home crowd. The Japanese wrestler earned a point after Antim failed to score during a passivity period, then stretched her lead to 2-0 by the end of the first period.
Antim briefly appeared to bring Kiyooka down on her leg, but the Japanese wrestler quickly powered the Indian off the mat. Antim challenged the referee's decision, but the review went against her. With time running short, Antim was forced to attack, and Kiyooka capitalised — completing a leg takedown that pushed the scoreline to 9-1 and sealed the gold.
Dominant Run to the Final
The 21-year-old had been in commanding form before the title bout. She opened her campaign with a 9-0 win over Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek, followed by an 8-0 demolition of Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal against China's Jin Zhang, Antim conceded the opening point before rallying with six unanswered points to win 6-1 and book her place in the final.
Historic Milestone for Indian Women's Wrestling
By reaching the final, Antim became only the third Indian woman wrestler to contest an Asian Games wrestling final, after Geetika Jakhar and Vinesh Phogat. Notably, this is her second Asian Games medal — she had won bronze in the same 53 kg category at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022, underlining her consistency at the continental level.
India's Wrestling Haul at Aichi-Nagoya
Antim's silver is India's sixth wrestling medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The day was particularly productive for the Indian wrestling contingent: Aman Sehrawat claimed gold in the men's freestyle 57 kg category, while Deepak Punia secured bronze in the men's 97 kg event. India's wrestlers are shaping up as one of the country's strongest performing disciplines at these Games.
What It Means Going Forward
Antim's back-to-back Asian Games medals — bronze in Hangzhou, silver in Nagoya — place her firmly among India's elite wrestlers on the continental stage. At just 21, she has the trajectory to contend for higher honours at future editions, and her performances at these Games are likely to strengthen her case for priority selection in upcoming World Championship and Olympic qualification cycles.
Point of View
And the home-crowd factor in Nagoya was real. What the scoreboard does not capture is how significant Antim's trajectory is: two Asian Games, two medals, in the same weight class, at 21. The more pressing question for Indian wrestling administrators is whether the support infrastructure around her — coaching continuity, international exposure, and nutrition — matches the ambition her results demand. India has a habit of celebrating podium finishes and then underinvesting in the next cycle; Antim's record makes her too important for that pattern to repeat.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Antim Panghal's Asian Games 2026 final?
Antim Panghal lost the women's 53 kg wrestling gold-medal final 1-9 to Japan's Moe Kiyooka at the Asian Games 2026 in Nishio on 3 October, settling for the silver medal.
Which Indian women wrestlers have reached an Asian Games wrestling final before Antim Panghal?
Antim Panghal is only the third Indian woman wrestler to reach an Asian Games wrestling final. Geetika Jakhar and Vinesh Phogat were the two who preceded her in that elite group.
What medals has Antim Panghal won at the Asian Games?
Antim Panghal has won two Asian Games medals — a bronze in the 53 kg category at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022, and a silver in the same category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in 2026.
How did Antim Panghal perform before the final at Asian Games 2026?
Antim had a dominant run to the final: she beat Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek 9-0, defeated Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova 8-0 in the quarterfinals, and overcame China's Jin Zhang 6-1 in the semifinal.
How many wrestling medals did India win at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
India won at least six wrestling medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. On the same day as Antim Panghal's silver, Aman Sehrawat claimed gold in the men's freestyle 57 kg event and Deepak Punia secured bronze in the men's 97 kg category.
