Pincky Balhara wins her second Asiad medal, adds kurash bronze to 2018 silver

India's Pincky Balhara, right, competes against South Korea's Mo Sumin in the women's 78kg kurash semifinal. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s Pincky Balhara secured her second Asian Games medal in kurash, clinching bronze in the women’s -78kg category after losing 0-5 to South Korea’s Sumin Mo in the semifinals at Aichi-Nagoya on Monday.The 27-year-old thus added another medal to her Asian Games collection, eight years after winning silver in the women’s -52kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Games, when kurash made its debut at the continental event.

Balhara’s latest podium finish also marked India’s third medal in kurash at the Asian Games. The Indian had reached the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over South Korea’s Garam Lim in the quarterfinals.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Balhara’s second Asiad podium finish

Balhara began her campaign in the quarterfinals against Lim, where she secured a convincing 3-0 victory to book her place in the last four.

The Indian produced the decisive score through a ‘Chala’, a scoring move awarded when a competitor throws an opponent but does not demonstrate complete control over the action.Lim, meanwhile, failed to register a point during the contest, allowing Balhara to progress to the semifinals and put herself in contention for another Asian Games medal.However, the Indian could not overcome Mo in the semifinals. The South Korean secured a 5-0 win, ending Balhara’s hopes of reaching the final and leaving her with the bronze medal.

Mo earned a ‘Yonbosh’ point during the contest, while Balhara was penalised with a ‘Dakki’. The Indian was unable to recover from the disadvantage as the South Korean controlled the bout to seal her place in the final.

From Jakarta silver to Aichi-Nagoya bronze

Balhara first made her mark at the Asian Games in 2018, when she won silver in the women’s -52kg category in Jakarta. Kurash was introduced to the Games programme that year, giving Indian athletes an opportunity to compete for medals in the Uzbek martial art.

Her silver medal was among India's early successes in the discipline, and her latest podium finish underlines her continued presence in the sport at the highest continental level.The Indian contingent added another medal through Balhara’s performance on Monday, taking its overall tally at the Games to 39, comprising four gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals.