India's Kajal wins gold, Antim Panghal and Neha Sharma claim silver at Budapest Ranking Series
Reigning U20 world champion wrestler Kajal secured the women's 76kg category gold medal with a dominant performance at the Budapest Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary.
In the gold medal match, Kajal faced Dymond Precious Guilford of the United States. The contest ended in a 3-3 draw, but Kajal was declared the winner on criteria, demonstrating composure under pressure. This marked India's third gold medal of the tournament.
India added two silver medals through strong performances in the 53kg and 57kg weight divisions. In the 53kg final, Antim Panghal was forced to settle for silver after withdrawing from her bout against Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren of Sweden due to an injury (VIN).
In the 57kg category, Neha Sharma advanced to the final with an impressive run. She faced Kexin Hong of China in the title clash, losing 0-4 on points to finish second.
India secured an additional podium finish in the 53kg division as Nishu claimed a bronze medal. In a tightly contested match against Romania's Andrea Beatrice Ana, the bout ended in a 2-2 tie. Nishu was declared the winner on criteria (VPO1) due to her defensive resilience.
India has now accumulated 12 medals at the tournament: three gold, four silver, and five bronze. The contingent will now focus on the upcoming Greco-Roman weight categories as they aim to finish the ranking series on a strong note.