In the heart of Hisar, Haryana, a small village witnessed the birth of a future wrestling star, Antim Panghal, on 31 August, 2004.
Antim, which means ‘last’, was named so by her family in the hopes of her being their last daughter. While their wish came true, little did they know that Antim would soon become the youngest Indian wrestler at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Antim, a two-time junior world champion and world championships medallist, will take the centrestage on 7 June at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the 53kg event.
Born to Ram Niwas Panghal and Krishna Kumari, Antim grew up in a household that valued hard work and perseverance. Alongside her three older sisters and one younger brother, Antim’s journey into wrestling began at the tender age of 10, inspired by her eldest sister, Sarita, a national-level kabaddi player.
Recognising Antim’s potential, Sarita introduced her to wrestling, taking her to the Mahavir Stadium in Hisar for training. Despite initial reluctance, Ram Niwas was eventually convinced by Antim’s coach, Roshni Devi, to support his daughter’s passion. This support included relocating the family to ensure Antim had access to the best training facilities, a........