Wrestler Meenakshi Goyat with her father after defeating Antim Panghal in the women’s 53kg final at the Asian Wrestling Championships selection trials on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Two-time World Championships medalist Antim Panghal suffered a shock defeat to Meenakshi at the selection trials and eventual exclusion from the side for the Asian Wrestling Championships at the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium here on Tuesday.
Antim, who has virtually dominated the 53kg for the past couple of years, was pinned by Meenakshi in the final of the trials after breezing through the opening rounds without dropping a point, as did her opponent.
But the 25-year-old Meenakshi was confident, playing to her strengths and not allowing Antim to attack. The two were tied 2-2 in the first period before Meenakshi managed a couple of take-downs to race ahead 6-2. With seconds left on the clock, she pushed Antim’s shoulders to the mat to win by Fall.
In the 76kg final, Kajal Dhochak continued her impressive form from the Pro Wrestling League to beat favourite Priya Malik 4-2.
Other categories, meanwhile, went as per expectations with Manisha Bhanwala, defending champion in the 62kg, moving down two categories to win in 57kg, and Mansi Ahlawat (62kg) booking their respective berths.
In Lucknow, the men’s trials were on more predictable lines except for Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat participating and winning in the non-Olympic 61kg category, moving up from the 57kg. In his absence, Ankush took the top spot in the 57kg.
Meanwhile, four men and women each across categories have also been selected for the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, next month.
The squads: Men: Freestyle: Ankush (57kg), Aman Sehrawat (61kg), Sujeet Kalkal (65kg), Abhimanyu (70kg), Jaideep (74kg), Sandeep Mann (79kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg), Punit Kumar (92kg), Vicky (97kg), Dinesh Shankar (125kg).
Greco-Roman: Lalit (55kg), Sahil (60kg), Sunny (63kg), Sachin Sehrawat (67kg), Anil (72kg), Aman (77kg), Prince (82kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Joginder Rathi (130kg).
Women: Neelam Sirohi (50kg), Meenakshi (53kg), Hanshika Lamba (55kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Neha Sangwan (59kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Monika (65kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Harshitha (72kg), Kajal Dhocjak (76kg).
ABG squad: Men: Siddharth (70kg), Amit (80kg), Aryan (90kg), Jaspooran Singh(90+kg). Women: Priyanshi Prajapat (50kg), Pushpa Yadav (60kg), Jaspreet Kaur (70kg), Priya Malik (70+kg).
Published – March 17, 2026 08:25 pm IST
