National Wrestling Championships 2025: Antim, Manisha, Nisha emerge winners

Double Worlds bronze medallist Antim Panghal, Asian champion Manisha Bhanwala and Olympian Nisha Dahiya asserted their class to emerge as champions in women’s competitions on the opening day of the National Wrestling Championships at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Naranpura, here on Friday.

Antim, who regularly competes in 53kg, won the crown in 55kg. Manisha, the 62kg Asian champion, dropped down to claim the 57kg title, while Nisha secured the gold medal in 68kg.

Despite brief challenges from Hansika (8-0) in the quarterfinal, Ahilya Shinde (14-8) in the semifinal and Jyoti in the final (5-0), Antim had a comfortable outing. In the final, both Antim and Jyoti showed their defensive skills, but the former executed a take-down in each period to win the match.

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“I had the experience of fighting with these girls. They shuffle between 53kg and 55kg. I wanted to avoid cutting my weight for this event. I will go back to 53kg for the Pro Wrestling League and other important events next year,” said Antim, who last competed in 55kg three years ago.

Manisha cruised to the final before overcoming Neha Sharma’s challenge for a 2-1 victory. In a bout involving no scoring moves, both earned points due to the rival’s passivity.

Nisha, who led 4-0 in the first period, pinned Srishti with more than two minutes left in the clock to bag the gold.

Haryana picked up the team title, while Railways was runner-up.

Published on Dec 12, 2025