How Did Priya and Manisha Perform at the Budapest Wrestling Rankings?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Priya Malik won a silver medal in the 76 kg category.
- Manisha secured a bronze medal after a strong comeback.
- Indian women wrestlers continue to excel internationally.
- The Greco-Roman wrestlers will compete again for a chance at medals.
- Women’s wrestling in India is on the rise.
Budapest (Hungary), July 19 (NationPress) Indian women continue to showcase their supremacy on the international wrestling scene at the current 4th Ranking Series – 'Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial' taking place in Budapest, Hungary, where they clinched a silver and bronze medal on Saturday.
In an impressive exhibition of strength and tenacity, three Indian women wrestlers made it to the podium, contributing to India's medal tally. Although the gold medal eluded them this time, the athletes' performances highlighted the rising prowess of Indian women in the sport.
Priya's Silver Achievement
Emerging talent Priya Malik showcased her remarkable skills and resolve in the 76 kg weight category, securing a silver medal. After advancing directly to the qualification round, she triumphed over Almira Syzdykova of Kazakhstan with a score of 7-2.
Building on her momentum, the former World U20 Champion overwhelmed Valeriia (UWW) in the semifinal with a commanding technical superiority score of 11-1, securing her place in the final match. However, in the championship round against Brazil’s Martins Machado, Priya appeared slightly overconfident. In a tightly contested match, she narrowly lost 4-3, ultimately earning a hard-fought silver medal.
Asian Champion Manisha claimed a bronze medal after battling through the repechage. Expectations were high for Manisha, but she faced an unexpected defeat in the quarterfinals against Amina Tandelova by technical superiority.
Fortunately, as Amina advanced to the finals, Manisha earned her chance in the repechage rounds.
Making a powerful comeback, she overcame France’s Ameline Douarre by fall. She then dominated Krystsina Sazykina in the bronze medal match, winning by fall once again and securing the medal for India.
Greco-Roman Wrestlers Fall Short
Conversely, Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers experienced a disappointing day on Saturday, with no one reaching the medal matches. However, competitions in the remaining Greco-Roman categories will continue on Sunday, and optimism remains for a turnaround.
The empowerment of women in Indian wrestling is on the rise, and their performances at the Budapest Ranking Series reaffirm the country’s strong presence on the global stage. They exhibited their capabilities by securing four medals, including two golds, a silver, and a bronze at the Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial 2025 tournament on Friday.
Olympian Antim Panghal and Harshita both won gold medals in their respective weight classes. Antim defeated Russia’s Natalia Malysheva 7-4 in the final of the 53kg category. This marks her second international gold this year, following her victory at the Ulaanbaatar Open in May.