Corsier-sur-Vevey: The United World Wrestling Rising Star of the Year award for 2022 has been nominated for Indian wrestler Antim Panghal.
Antim Panghal created history this year when he won India's first-ever gold medal in the World U20 Wrestling Championships 2022 in August.
Prior to Antim, six Indian wrestlers had reached the finals in the 44 previous editions of the junior world meet, but none had taken home a gold medal.
On her way to the top of the podium, Antim Panghal pinned Ayaka Kimura of Japan, defeated Amory Olivia Andrich of Germany, the junior European champion, 11-0, and blanked Altyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan, the U20 Asian medalist. Nataliia Klivchutska of Ukraine, who took home the bronze medal at the U20 European Championships, was also defeated by her.
This year, Antim Panghal competed in four international contests for various age groups, a release said. At the 2022 U23 Asian Championships, she was defeated by Uzbek Aktenge Keunimjaeva, who had won silver at the 2018 Junior World Championships, ending her season with 16 victories and just one loss.
She won gold medals at the U20 World Championships, U20 Asian Championships, and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series competition for seniors.
The other four women up for the United World Wrestling 2022 Rising Star of the Year award are Nonoka Ozaki of Japan, Amit Elor of the United States, and Andreea Ana of Romania. Antim Panghal is the only woman on the list. Nonoka Ozaki, 19, took home gold at both the Asian championship and senior world championships in the 62kg division this year.
Amit Elor, on the other hand, is the current senior and U23 world champion in the 72 kg weight division. The 18-year-old is currently ranked No. 2 in the world in the senior class.
In the 53 kg weight division, 21-year-old European champion Emma Malmgren is rated fourth in the world. The 55 kg senior European champion is Andreea Ana.
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