Parents kept the last name so that no daughter is born again: sold land and machines for her wrestling, she fights with boys in the ring; now she will fight in the Olympics

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Girls can also compete with boys…parents realized this when Antim won a medal in wrestling. After this, the whole family stood with Antim. For his preparation for wrestling, his father sold his agricultural land and machines. When there was a problem of milk and ghee, he raised a cow in the courtyard. He left the village and settled in the city.

Antim will now play her first match in the 53KG women’s wrestling at the Paris Olympics on August 7. Read the ground report from his house…

Antim Panghal training in the gym. Photo- antimpanghal_wrestler

Mother prepares the diet at home, father delivers it to the wrestling center
Bhaskar reporter reached Ram Niwas Panghal’s house in Azad Nagar, Hisar. His wife Krishna was busy preparing daughter Antim’s diet. Almonds were being ground. She said, “Just now I and Antim’s father have come back from Sai’s wrestling center after giving Antim lunch. Now I am busy preparing 4 almond shakes and juice that will be sent in the evening. I take care of his diet. Food is sent to the center four times a day.”

She was weak in studies, but was physically strong so she was put into wrestling
Krishna says, “We already had 3 girls and then this one was born. First we thought of naming her Bhateri. Bhateri means enough, then later we named her Antim. After this a boy was born. When Antim won a medal, we felt that girls are no less than boys.

Antim was weak in studies from the beginning, but she was physically strong. We sent her to play Kabaddi with her elder sister, but after seeing Antim, the coach said that let her wrestle, she will go ahead. This is how Antim’s wrestling career started.”

Sold village land for training, came to Hisar
Soon, father Ram Niwas also came. He told, “Antim was interested in sports. We sent him to play Kabaddi with our elder daughter. At that time, Antim was 10 years old. The coach asked him to play wrestling. We also had one thing in mind. We wanted our daughter to play individual games. One will work hard and the other will get fame. It is not like this in team games.”

Ram Niwas says, “Initially we made Anant practice with the senior wrestling players of the village. After 6 months when Anant started playing well, we felt the need for better practice. Our village Bhagana is 24 km away from Hisar. We had 2 acres of land there, we sold some of the land. We sold the farming machines and the whole family came to Hisar. We built a house in Azad Nagar. Now Bhagat Singh is giving personal coaching.

Antim won gold in the U-20 World Cup in 2022. She became the first Indian woman to do so. Photo- antimpanghal_wrestler

Not sent abroad, not getting home cooked food
Ram Niwas said, “He was not sent abroad for training. Too much time would have been wasted there. Maybe he would not have even got home-cooked food. Protein is needed and we are vegetarians. We have reared a cow at home so that Anant does not face shortage of milk and ghee. His mother and sisters take care of his diet. A sister is also present at the wrestling center to give juice and food.

As far as coaching is concerned, there are good and better coaches in our country, so we decided to stay here and coach. Coach Bhagat Singh, elder sister Nisha and physio Hira will go to Paris with Antim. I am confident that Antim will bring a medal.”

When we asked him about the controversy in the wrestling federation, Ram Niwas said, “The junior players have suffered the consequences of the allegations made by the seniors on the federation. They had got everything, the juniors had to reach new heights. If they had said anything, they would have suffered. There is also pressure from the seniors.”

Ankit was betting in the wrestling center, said- the problems were solved with the prize money

After home, Bhaskar reporter reached Sai’s wrestling center. She was practicing her moves in the final ring. When she came after training, we asked her how her journey to Olympics was, she said that initially her condition was not good, but her parents did not let her feel it.

Antim said, “Papa wanted me to become a wrestler. The condition of our house was not good. Papa used to drive a car. There was a lot of problem regarding diet. Mummy-Papa did whatever they could. After I came to Hisar, the whole family came here. Later medals came and with the prize money all the problems started going away.”

This year, President Draupadi Murmu gave the Arjuna Award to Antim. Photo-antimpanghal_wrestler

Last quote- The whole family was involved in my preparation
Antim said, “My mother sends food from home all three times a day. One sister stays with me. We are four sisters and I have a younger brother. The whole family is busy in my preparations for the Olympics.

Wrestlers reach the Olympics after a lot of competition and all the wrestlers are good. I think my competition will be with wrestlers from Japan and China.”

“There was a little confusion about the Olympic trials. Mom-Dad and coach told me to focus on the Olympics. Believe that you are preparing for the Olympics and this competition is a part of it. Whatever happens next will be seen.”

She practices for 7-8 hours every day

I met Antim’s coach Bhagat Singh at the wrestling center. He said, “Anti came to me seven years ago. She is very dedicated and tries to do something extra. She was the most hardworking among all the children who came to me for practice.

Now she is training for 7-8 hours daily. First she trains with a girl of her weight category. After that she practices with a male wrestler of 50 to 60 kgs.”

Physio Hira said, “I have been with Anant for 3 months. He had a back problem. He was having trouble even getting up and sitting. We did his conditioning and made a recovery program. Now he is completely fit.”