Nagoya, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Pincky Balhara secured a bronze medal in the women’s -78kg Kurash event at the Asian Games after losing her semifinal to South Korea’s Mo Sumin on Monday.
The 2018 Asian Games silver medallist went down 0-5 to Sumin, who controlled the contest and advanced to the gold-medal bout. Balhara had earlier defeated South Korea’s Lim Garam 3-0 in the quarterfinal to assure India of a medal.
Balhara received a dakki, or two warnings, during the semifinal. Sumin then scored through a chala before adding a yonbosh, a full point, to complete the 5-0 victory.
In the quarterfinal, Balhara scored a chala against Lim, while the South Korean received a tanbekh warning.
The bronze is Balhara’s second Asian Games medal in Kurash. She won silver in the women’s -52kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Games, when Kurash made its Asian Games debut. She had previously competed in judo and won gold at the 2018 Asian Junior Judo Championships before later qualifying for the Kurash event.
Balhara’s medal was India’s first in Kurash at the ongoing Games and the country’s third-ever Asian Games medal in the discipline.
India had endured a difficult opening day in Kurash, with Vishal losing his men’s +90kg quarterfinal 0-5 to Thailand’s Kunathip Yea-On. Sangita Balhara also lost her women’s -57kg Round of 32 bout 0-10 to the Philippines’ Charmea Quelino, while Bharti was defeated by Iran’s Tahereh Azarpeivand in the Round of 16. Yash Kumar Chauhan lost his men’s +90kg Round of 16 bout 0-10 to Tajikistan’s Shakarmamad Mirmamadov.
Balhara’s bronze was followed by India’s shooting success on Monday, with Esha Singh securing silver in the women’s 25m pistol event.
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