Asian Games wrestling: Deepak Punia in SF, Sagar, Antim, Manisha reach QF
Synopsis
India's wrestlers lit up the opening day of competition at the Nagoya Asian Games — Deepak Punia cruised into the 97kg semifinals via a technical-superiority win and a walkover, while Antim Panghal, Manisha Bhanwala, and Sagar Jaglan all advanced with shutout or dominant victories. Four Indians are now in medal contention as the knockout rounds begin.
Key Takeaways
Deepak Punia advanced to the men's freestyle 97kg semifinals at the Asian Games in Nagoya on 3 October .
Punia beat China's Zhou Junpeng 10-2 by technical superiority, then received a walkover from Hong Kong China's Wui Fung Vincent Li .
Sagar Jaglan defeated Mongolia's Tulga Tumur-Ochir 8-1 and will face Iran's Yones Emamichoghaei in the 74kg quarterfinals.
Antim Panghal won 9-0 over Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek and next faces Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova in the 53kg quarterfinals.
Manisha Bhanwala won 8-0 by fall and faces Japan's Akari Fujinami in the 57kg quarterfinals.
India has four wrestlers remaining in medal contention as competition moves into the knockout rounds.
Deepak Punia powered into the men's freestyle 97kg semifinals at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday, 3 October, as India's wrestling contingent made a commanding opening-day statement — with Sagar Jaglan, Antim Panghal, and Manisha Bhanwala all advancing to the quarterfinals in their respective categories. India now has four wrestlers in contention for medals as the competition enters its knockout phase.
Deepak Punia's Route to the Semifinals
Punia launched his campaign with clinical authority, beating China's Zhou Junpeng 10-2 in the round of 16. He led 6-2 after the opening period and shut out his opponent 6-0 in the second to seal the win by technical superiority. He then received a walkover into the last four after Hong Kong China's Wui Fung Vincent Li forfeited their scheduled bout, sending Punia directly into the semifinals without further exertion.
Sagar Jaglan Eases Through in 74kg
In the men's freestyle 74kg draw, Sagar Jaglan opened with an 8-1 victory over Mongolia's Tulga Tumur-Ochir in the pre-quarterfinals. He will next face Iran's Yones Emamichoghaei in the quarterfinals, with a semifinal berth on the line.
Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala Dominate Women's Events
Antim Panghal, who claimed bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, showed no signs of nerves, overpowering Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek 9-0 in the women's 53kg pre-quarterfinal. Her quarterfinal opponent will be Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova.
Manisha Bhanwala was equally dominant in the women's 57kg category, defeating South Korea's Kwon Youngjin 8-0 by fall to book her quarterfinal spot. She faces a steep test next — Japan's Akari Fujinami, a formidable force who has moved up from the 53kg category to compete at 57kg for these Games.
India's Medal Prospects
With Punia already guaranteed a shot at a medal from the semifinals and three others still alive in the quarterfinals, India's wrestling unit is shaping up as one of the country's stronger medal prospects at these Games. Notably, the women's category has delivered particularly assured performances, with both Antim and Manisha recording shutout victories. How the squad navigates the tougher quarterfinal matchups — especially Manisha against Fujinami — will determine whether this strong start translates into a multi-medal haul.
Point of View
And Saturday's opening round suggests that trend continues. Deepak Punia's technical superiority win — before even needing his second bout — signals he is at his sharpest. The real story, however, may be in the women's draw: both Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala recorded dominant shutouts, and a potential quarterfinal upset of Japan's Akari Fujinami by Manisha would mark a significant shift in the 57kg pecking order. India's medal count from wrestling will hinge less on Saturday's early wins and more on whether the contingent can handle the step-up in quality that quarterfinals inevitably bring.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Deepak Punia reach the Asian Games semifinals?
Deepak Punia reached the men's freestyle 97kg semifinals at the Nagoya Asian Games after beating China's Zhou Junpeng 10-2 by technical superiority in the round of 16, and then receiving a walkover when Hong Kong China's Wui Fung Vincent Li forfeited their bout.
Who will Sagar Jaglan face in the quarterfinals?
Sagar Jaglan will face Iran's Yones Emamichoghaei in the men's freestyle 74kg quarterfinals, having defeated Mongolia's Tulga Tumur-Ochir 8-1 in the pre-quarterfinals.
Who is Antim Panghal's quarterfinal opponent at the Asian Games?
Antim Panghal will face Uzbekistan's Sakibjamal Esbosynova in the women's 53kg quarterfinals. Panghal, who won bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, beat Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek 9-0 in her opening bout.
Why is Manisha Bhanwala's quarterfinal considered a tough draw?
Manisha Bhanwala faces Japan's Akari Fujinami in the women's 57kg quarterfinals. Fujinami is described as a dominant force who has moved up from the 53kg category specifically for these Asian Games, making her one of the more formidable opponents in the draw.
How many Indian wrestlers are still in contention for medals at the Nagoya Asian Games?
Four Indian wrestlers remain in medal contention — Deepak Punia, who has already secured a semifinal spot, and Sagar Jaglan, Antim Panghal, and Manisha Bhanwala, who are all through to the quarterfinals.
