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Health & Fitness / bhaskarlive

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Asian Games: Deepak Punia into SF, Safar, Manisha, Antim reach QF

Digital Desk | Nagoya, Oct 3 (IANS) India made a strong start to its wrestling campaign at the Asian Games on Saturday, with Deepak Punia advancing to the mens freestyle 97kg semifinals while Sagar Jaglan, Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala booked their places in the quarterfinals in their respective events. Deepak had a straightforward route through the opening rounds. He began his campaign with a commanding 10-2 victory over Chinas Zhou Junpeng in the round of 16, taking a 6-2 lead in the opening period before shutting out his opponent 6-0 in the second to secure the win by technical superiority. The Indian then progressed to the semifinals without having to wrestle his next bout. Hong Kong Chinas Wui Fung Vincent Li forfeited their contest, sending Deepak directly into the last four. In the mens freestyle 74kg category, Sagar Jaglan also produced a comfortable opening-round victory, defeating Mongolias Tulga Tumur-Ochir 8-1 in the pre-quarterfinals. He will now face Irans Yones Emamichoghaei in the quarterfinals for a place in the semifinals. India also registered two victories in the womens events. Antim Panghal, the bronze medallist from the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, dominated Kazakhstans Shugyla Omirbek 9-0 in the womens 53kg pre-quarterfinal. She will meet Uzbekistans Sakibjamal Esbosynova in the quarterfinals. Manisha, meanwhile, began her womens 57kg campaign with an 8-0 victory over South Koreas Kwon Youngjin, winning by fall to move into the quarterfinals. Her next challenge will be a major one, with Japans Akari Fujinami awaiting in the last eight. Fujinami, a dominant force in the 53kg category, has moved up to 57kg for the Asian Games. With Deepak already through to the semifinals and three other Indian wrestlers progressing to the quarterfinal stage, India has four wrestlers remaining in contention for medals as the competition moves into the knockout rounds.

3 Oct 2026 8:30 am