India’s Pincky Balhara won the bronze medal in women’s kurash at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, adding another medal to India’s growing tally at the continental competition.
Balhara competed in the women’s -78kg category and reached the semifinal after a strong quarterfinal performance. She defeated Singapore’s Lim Garam 3-0 in the quarterfinal, securing a medal for India.
In the semifinal, Balhara faced Sumin Mo of South Korea. Mo won the contest 5-0, ending Balhara’s run towards the gold medal. Under the competition format, Balhara received the bronze medal for reaching the semifinal.
The medal is particularly significant for Balhara because it is her second Asian Games kurash medal. She previously won silver at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta in the women’s under-52kg category.
At the 2018 Games, Balhara defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tsou Chiawen 5-0 in the round of 16. She then beat Sri Lanka’s Susanti Terry Kusumawardani 3-0 in the quarterfinal before defeating Uzbekistan’s Oysuluv Abdumajidova 1-0 in the semifinal.
Balhara eventually faced Uzbekistan’s Gulnor Sulaymanova in the final. Sulaymanova won the contest, leaving Balhara with the silver medal. At just 19 years old, Balhara had already secured her first Asian Games medal.
Before moving to kurash, Balhara had established herself in judo. She won gold medals at the Asian Cup and Asian Junior Championships but missed out on selection for India’s judo team for the 2018 Asian Games.
She subsequently switched to kurash, a combat sport that combines elements of traditional grappling and throwing techniques. The move quickly brought success, with her first Asian Games medal coming in Jakarta.
Eight years later, Balhara added another medal to her Asian Games record. Her bronze in Nagoya makes her the only Indian athlete to have won two kurash medals at the Asian Games, highlighting her long association with the sport.
India’s overall medal tally stood at 38 medals, including four gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze, with Balhara’s bronze adding to the country’s total.