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Although her name translates to “the last,” ANTIM (IND) accomplished a first for India.
Six Indian wrestlers advanced to the finals of the U20 World Championships before Antim, but it took the 17-year-old to win the country’s first-ever gold medal at the tournament.
She not only won the gold medal, but she also won the 53kg weight class. In the first round, she defeated U20 European champion Amory ANDRICH (GER) 11-0, pinned Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) in the quarterfinals, and won the semifinal via technical superiority over Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR).
“Everyone always said that Japan is the best,” Antim said. “All I wanted to do was beat Japan.”
“I really love counters but here she was not attacking much so I had to initiate a few attacks,” she said.
Though Antim, who turns 18 on August 31, had previously won titles at various age-group nationals, she made headlines following the Commonwealth Games selection trials in June.
She wrestled world bronze medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) in the final and led 3-1 until the final 10 seconds, when Phogat used a seatbelt for exposure to win 3-3.
“I wrestled Vinesh without any pressure because my coach had told me that it doesn’t matter if I win or lose,” she said. “I am way younger than Vinesh so it didn’t matter.”
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