Netizens on Saturday celebrated Indian wrestler Antim Panghal marking history by becoming the first-ever female wrestler from the country to win a gold medal at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Bulgaria.
She defeated Atlyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan to win the top medal in the 53 kg category.
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to congratulate the grappler for achieving the incredible feat.
Home Minister Applauds Antim Panghal for Becoming First Indian to Win U-20 World Wrestling Championship
© Photo : Twitter/@AmitShah
Apart from Shah, several other federal ministers and state chiefs lauded Panghal for her achievement.
Federal Minister Nitin Gadkari Hails Antim Panghal for Her Historic Feat
© Photo : Twitter/@nitin_gadkari
Federal Minister Piyush Goyal Lauds Antim Panghal as He Said 'India's Daughter Did It Once Again'
© Photo : Twitter/@PiyushGoyal
Before Panghal, six Indian wrestlers had reached the finals at the championship but were not able to take home the top medal.
The 17-year-old grappler from Bhagana, a village in Hisar district in Haryana state won all her bouts easily. In the first round she defeated junior European champion Amory Olivia Andrich of Germany while in quarter-finals she pinned Japan’s Ayaka Kimura and outplayed Ukraine’s Nataliia Klivchutsak in the semi-finals.
While talking to the media after winning the final fight against Shagayeva, Panghal said: "I really love counters but here she [Shagayeva] was not attacking much so I had to initiate a few attacks."
Panghal also won a gold medal at the seniors Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series in Tunisia last month.
In addition to Panghal’s gold medal, India’s Sonam Malik and Priyanka won silver medals in the championship.