Indian Wrestlers Shine at Asian Games 2026: Quarterfinals and Semifinals Achieved

Indian wrestlers are making headlines at the Asian Games 2026, with Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala advancing to the quarterfinals, while Deepak Punia has reached the semifinals. In addition to wrestling, India's women's rugby team secured a win, and Kumkum Mohod made history in archery by winning gold. The country's medal tally has now reached 77, showcasing a strong performance across various sports. Read on for more details about India's achievements at the Games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 3, 2026, 09:21 IST

Wrestling: Indian Athletes Excel

On Saturday, Indian wrestlers Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala secured their spots in the quarterfinals, while Deepak Punia advanced to the semifinals during the ongoing Asian Games 2026.

Antim had a stellar start in the women's 53kg division, overpowering Kazakhstan's Shugyla Omirbek with a decisive 9-0 victory in the pre-quarterfinals, ensuring her advancement to the next round.

Similarly, Manisha showcased her skills in the women's 57kg category, achieving an impressive 8-0 win by fall against South Korea's Kwon Youngjin in her pre-quarterfinal match. She is set to compete against Japan's Akari Fujinami in the quarterfinals.

In the men's freestyle 97kg category, Deepak Punia initially triumphed over China's Zhou Junpeng with a score of 10-2, demonstrating technical superiority. He led 6-2 after the first period and sealed the win with a 6-0 score in the second period. Deepak then moved to the semifinals after his scheduled opponent, Hong Kong China's Li Vincent, withdrew from the match.

Additionally, Sagar Jaglan progressed to the quarterfinals in the men's freestyle 74kg category, defeating Mongolia's Tulga Tumur-Ochir with a score of 8-1 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Mixed Results in Other Sports

In other competitions, India's women's rugby sevens team achieved a 22-5 victory over Singapore in their first classification match and will next face Kazakhstan in the 5th-8th place encounter.

Unfortunately, India's taekwondo efforts concluded without any wins, as both Kashish Malik and Jyoti Yadav faced defeats in their opening rounds. Kashish lost 0-2 to reigning Olympic champion Kim Yujin from South Korea in the women's 57kg round of 16, while Jyoti was defeated 0-2 by Thailand's Kannaluck Chuenchooklin in the women's 67kg round of 16.

Historic Gold in Archery

Earlier in the day, 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod made history by clinching gold in the women's individual recurve archery event. She triumphed over South Korea's Oh Yejin in a shoot-off after the final score was tied at 5-5.

Golf: Pranavi Urs Takes the Lead

In golf, Pranavi Urs has emerged as a strong contender, regaining the lead in the women's individual stroke play. After scoring a birdie on the 13th hole, she moved to 15-under, holding a one-stroke lead over China's Yin Ruoning with five holes left to play.

India's Medal Tally

As of now, India's medal count stands at 77, comprising 17 gold, 25 silver, and 35 bronze medals.