PM Modi congratulates Antim Panghal, women's golf team on Asian Games 2026 silver medals
Synopsis
PM Modi called Antim Panghal's silver in the 53kg wrestling final 'indeed exemplary' and praised the women's golf team for a historic Asian Games silver — the first ever by an Indian women's team at the Asiad. Pranavi Sharath Urs added an individual gold, becoming the first Indian woman to win stroke play gold at the Asian Games.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Antim Panghal and the women's golf team via posts on X on 4 October 2026 .
Antim Panghal won silver in the Women's 53kg Freestyle Wrestling event, upgrading her Hangzhou bronze ; she lost the final to Japan's Moe Kiyooka 1-9 .
The women's golf team of Aditi Ashok , Pranavi Sharath Urs , and Diksha Dagar became the first Indian women's team to win a medal at the Asian Games , finishing at 14-under 546 .
Pranavi Sharath Urs also won the individual stroke play gold at 15-under 265 , the first Indian woman to achieve this feat at the Asiad.
Antim was the only Indian woman wrestler to medal at these Games; five other wrestling medals were won by male grapplers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 4 October 2026 extended congratulations to wrestler Antim Panghal and the Indian women's golf team — comprising Aditi Ashok, Pranavi Sharath Urs, and Diksha Dagar — for their silver medal performances at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The acknowledgements, posted by the PMO India handle on X quoting the Prime Minister, came as India wrapped up a strong showing at the Asiad.
Modi's tribute to Antim Panghal
Praising the young wrestler's performance in the Women's 53kg Freestyle Wrestling category, the Prime Minister described her silver as 'indeed exemplary.' The PMO India handle, quoting Modi, wrote: 'Antim Panghal's Silver medal at the Asian Games was indeed exemplary! Congratulations to her on a wonderful performance in the Women's 53kg Freestyle Wrestling event. May she continue to bring more laurels to the country and motivate other athletes.'
Antim lost the final to Japan's Moe Kiyooka — the 2024 world champion in the 55kg category — by a score of 1-9. Notably, she was the only Indian woman wrestler to secure a medal at these Games, with five other wrestling medals going to male grapplers. The silver also marks a notable upgrade from the bronze she claimed at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Historic silver for women's golf team
In a separate post on X, Modi congratulated the golf trio, writing: 'Kudos to Aditi Ashok, Pranavi Sharath Urs and Diksha Dagar on winning the Silver Medal in the Women's Team Golf event at the Asian Games 2026 yesterday. This success highlights their determination and passion for the sport. May they continue to attain new heights of success in the times to come.'
The team's 14-under 546 aggregate over four days at the Kasugai Country Club East Course made them the first Indian women's team to win a medal at the Asian Games — a historic milestone for the sport in India.
Pranavi's individual gold adds to India's haul
Separately, Pranavi Sharath Urs scripted her own chapter in Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the individual stroke play event at the Asian Games. She shot an even-par 70 on the final day to finish at 15-under 265, winning the individual gold at the same venue.
Her performance was the foundation of the team's collective effort. Aditi Ashok shot a three-under 67 on Day 4, finishing at two-over 282 to end 14th in the individual standings. Diksha Dagar carded a seven-over on the final day, ending 12-over overall and finishing joint 23rd in the individual event.
India's broader performance at Aichi-Nagoya
The recognition from the Prime Minister reflects India's growing competitive presence across diverse disciplines at the Asiad. Wrestling and golf joining the medal tally underscores a broadening of India's sporting depth beyond traditional strongholds. With the Games drawing to a close, attention will now shift to how the medal-winners are supported in the lead-up to future international competitions.
Point of View
But the performances themselves are anything but. Antim Panghal's step up from bronze to silver against the reigning 2024 world champion signals genuine competitive growth, not just participation. More significantly, the women's golf team's historic medal — and Pranavi Sharath Urs's individual gold — point to India's expanding sporting geography: disciplines once outside the mainstream are now delivering at the continental level. The question is whether the policy and funding infrastructure will match the moment, or whether these athletes return to relative obscurity until the next Games cycle.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Antim Panghal win at the Asian Games 2026?
Antim Panghal won the silver medal in the Women's 53kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. She lost the final to Japan's Moe Kiyooka, the 2024 world champion, by a score of 1-9, improving on the bronze she had won at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Why is the Indian women's golf team's silver medal historic?
The team of Aditi Ashok, Pranavi Sharath Urs, and Diksha Dagar became the first Indian women's team to win a medal at the Asian Games. Their combined score of 14-under 546 over four days at the Kasugai Country Club East Course secured the silver.
What did Pranavi Sharath Urs achieve at the Asian Games 2026?
Pranavi Sharath Urs won the individual stroke play gold medal, finishing at 15-under 265 with an even-par 70 on the final day. She became the first Indian woman to win gold in the individual stroke play event at the Asian Games.
What did PM Modi say about Antim Panghal and the golf team?
PM Modi, quoted by PMO India on X, called Antim's silver 'indeed exemplary' and wished her continued success. In a separate post, he congratulated Aditi Ashok, Pranavi Sharath Urs, and Diksha Dagar, noting that their success 'highlights their determination and passion for the sport.'
How did India's other golfers perform individually at the Asian Games?
Aditi Ashok finished 14th in the individual event, carding a three-under 67 on Day 4 to end at two-over 282. Diksha Dagar finished joint 23rd, shooting seven-over on the final day and ending 12-over overall.
