Asian Games: Pincky Balhara becomes Indian Kurash legend with bronze medal in Nagoya

In 2018, Pincky Balhara found her name etched in Indian sports history when she won a silver medal in Kurash during the Asian Games in Jakarta. It was a sport that was never part of India’s staple diet, and years after Pincky’s success, it still remains foreign.

But Kurash is back on the map and once again the girl from Neb Sarai, Delhi topped the result. She was able to defeat Garam Lim in the quarterfinals to secure the medal and aim for the gold.

Asian Games 2026, September 28 update

However, she was defeated by Sumin Mo in the semi-finals. Pincky was far from 100 percent over the knee injury and said she was attacked in the same spot.

“I got injured in the quarter-final match, I got hit in the knee. My opponent in the quarter-final was also Korean. So my semi-final opponent knew that I injured my right knee.

“I was attacking but she hit me there (on the knee) again and again. So I lost on penalty,” a sobbing Balhara said from Delhi’s Neb Sarai, according to PTI.

Pincky won silver in Jakarta in the category up to 52 kg and competed in the new division only for the second time.

“It’s only my second bout at 78kg and before that I competed at the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan in May. That was my first at 78kg.”

But she gave India and the sport of Kurash a vital importance in the Asian Games.

WHO IS PINCKY BALHARA?

Pincky Balhara has established herself as a prominent name in Indian Kurashi as she has represented the country at international junior and senior level events since 2015. Her medals include gold at the 2015 Asian Junior Championships in Taipei, silver at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and gold at the 2024 World Nomad Games in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Competing in the women’s 78kg division, Balhara continued her strong run, winning silver at the 2026 Senior Asian Cup in Uzbekistan before securing gold at the 2026 Senior Nationals.

HOW PINCKY BEGAN KURASH

Although she is now a legend in Kurash, it was not her first choice of sport. Pincky’s journey in combat sports began with judo, where she established herself at the international level. Ahead of the 2018 Asian Games, she secured gold medals at both the Asian Cup and Asian Junior Championships.

However, she missed out on selection for the Indian judo team for the Jakarta Games. She then set her sights on Kurash and made the most of the opportunity to win her first Asian Games medal in the sport.

The gold dream may not have come true this time, but expect Pincky to return soon and keep Kuraš on the map.

– The end