Bruised Knee, Unusual Training Regime, Unbroken Spirit: Meet Pincky Balhara Who Made Asian Games History in Kurash

Nagoya, Sep 28: Pincky Balhara became the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in kurash after securing bronze in the women’s 78kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday.

The 27-year-old Delhi athlete’s campaign ended with a 0-5 defeat to South Korea’s Sumin Mo in the semi-finals, but the result still marked another milestone in her Asian Games career. Balhara had previously won silver in the women’s 52kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Games, when kurash made its Asian Games debut.

However, there was disappointment for Balhara after the semi-final as she revealed that an injury suffered in the quarter-final had hampered her performance.

Asian Games: Balhara Shares About Her Knee Injury

Balhara had defeated another Korean, Garam Lim, 3-0 in the quarter-finals. She scored through a ‘Chala’, awarded when an athlete throws an opponent without complete control. But during the bout, she suffered an injury to her right knee.

“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,” Balhara said after her match.

“I was attacking but she was hitting me there again and again. So, I lost on penalty,” she added, fighting back tears.

The defeat came in only Balhara’s second competitive appearance in the 78kg category. She had previously competed in the 78kg division at the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan in May, which was her first outing in the weight class.

“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,” she said.

Despite the setback, Balhara’s bronze made her India’s most successful kurash athlete at the Asian Games. Her journey in the sport has been shaped largely by her family and the academy where she trains in Delhi.

Balhara trains at the Baba Ganga Nath Judo and Kurash Academy in Munirka, which is run by her maternal uncle and former national champion judoka Samundar Tokas. She began her sporting journey with judo at the age of nine after growing up watching her uncle compete.

“I wanted to fight, that’s why I chose Judo. I grew up watching my uncle play judo, so I started with judo at the age of nine,” Balhara said. She later shifted to kurash due to India’s rules governing participation in martial arts.

“But in India, there is a rule that only one martial arts sport can be played. That’s why I chose Kurash. I am a ranking player for Kurash,” she explained.

Unusual Training Regime From Pincky

Balhara also credited her unusual training environment for helping her develop as a competitor. Most of her sparring partners at the academy are boys, meaning she rarely trains against women outside competitions.

“I trained in my own academy in Delhi’s Munirka, run by my maternal uncle Samunder Tokas. I didn’t get any exposure or help from outside. All my sparring partners at the academy are boys. I never fought with girls, except during competitions. So, it helps,” she said.

Her latest medal also comes against the backdrop of organisational challenges facing kurash in India. The sport has multiple rival bodies and lacks a recognised national federation, leaving athletes dependent largely on private support.

Balhara said the uncertainty surrounding the sport has repeatedly affected competitors.
“As soon as the Asian Games come, there is a new federation. But that is a loss for the players. A federation will always be there. We were misguided in 2023. That’s why I was disqualified,” she recalled.

For Balhara, the bronze in Aichi-Nagoya is therefore more than another medal. It adds to a career that has seen her overcome changes in weight category, limited institutional support and the demands of competing at the highest level.

Her latest achievement ensures that she now stands alone as India’s most decorated kurash athlete at the Asian Games.