Indian Wrestler Anshu Pangal Reflects on Silver Medal Achievement at 2026 Asian Games

New Delhi, October 4 (Daily Kiran) : Indian wrestler Anshu Pangal has expressed disappointment over not winning the gold medal in the women’s 53 kg final at the 2026 Asian Games. However, she takes pride in securing a silver medal.

In the gold medal match, Anshu faced Japan’s Mo Kiyoka, a gold medalist in the 55 kg category at the 2024 World Championships. Anshu transformed her bronze from the previous Asian Games into a silver this time around. Despite the loss in the final, she remains proud of her accomplishment. “Of course, I feel a bit sad that I couldn’t win gold, but I am very proud to win a silver medal for India at the Asian Games. Every athlete dreams of winning a medal for their country, and being able to do that on this platform means a lot to me,” she stated.

The Haryana athlete recalled the rigorous training and sacrifices she made in preparation for major events. “I made many sacrifices, faced tough days, and had moments when things didn’t go my way. But I kept faith in myself and continued to work hard. I am especially grateful to the Wrestling Federation of India, Inspire Institute of Sport, and Mr. Parth Jindal for their support, guidance, and help in my journey. I will embrace this experience, learn from it, and continue to work hard to come back stronger,” she added.

Anshu was the only Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Asian Games, while the other five medals were claimed by male wrestlers. At just 21, she showcased an impressive performance to reach the finals. She began her campaign by defeating Kazakhstan’s Shugila Omirbek 9-0, followed by an 8-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s Sakibjamal Esbosinova in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, she triumphed over China’s Jin Zhang with a score of 6-1. After initially losing a point, Anshu made a remarkable comeback, scoring six consecutive points to secure her place in the final. By qualifying for the finals, she joined an elite group, becoming the third Indian woman to reach the wrestling finals at the Asian Games, following Geetika Jakhar and Vinesh Phogat.