India's Kurash athlete Pincky Balhara bagged her second Asian Games medal. In the women's 78kg semifinal against South Korea's Mo Sumin, she lost 0-5 and bowed out of the competition in Aichi-Nagoya with a bronze medal.
She blamed her defeat on a knee injury she sustained in the quarter-final match which prevented her from attacking in the semifinal.
"I got injured in the quarterfinal match, got hit on the knee. My opponent in the quarterfinal was also a Korean. So, my semifinal opponent knew that I got injured on my right knee.
"I was attacking but she was hitting me there (on her knee) again and again. So, I lost on penalty," said a sobbing Balhara.
"This is only my second bout in 78kg and before that I competed in Asian Championships in Uzbekistan in May. That was my first in 78kg."
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Earlier, she had beaten Korea's Lim Garam 3-0 in the quarter-finals. Her opponent could not score a point in the bout. Meanwhile, the Indian advanced on the basis of 'Chala' which is awarded after the athlete throws her opponent without proper control.
Another bronze for India
Pincky's bronze is India's 18th at the ongoing Asian Games 2026. So far, India have won 38 medals including four gold and 16 silver.
When Pincky made Asian Games debut in Jakarta
The last time Pincky won an Asian Games medal was in 2018 edition. She bagged a silver medal in the women's 52kg category. It is also India's third Asian Games medal in Kurash.