Indian Wrestlers Celebrate Historic Return from Asian Games with Olympic Aspirations

Indian wrestlers Sujeet Kalkal, Aman Sehrawat, and Nitesh Kumar received a hero's welcome in New Delhi after their remarkable achievements at the Asian Games 2026. With a total of six medals, including two golds, the athletes are now setting their sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Sujeet's comeback victory and Aman's aspirations to hear the national anthem play in LA highlight their dedication and the support of their coaches. Nitesh's historic silver medal win adds to the excitement as India aims for further success in wrestling. Discover more about their journey and future goals in this inspiring story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 6, 2026, 00:19 IST

A Grand Welcome for Wrestling Champions

In a jubilant homecoming, Indian wrestlers who triumphed at the Asian Games 2026 were warmly greeted in New Delhi. Gold medalists Sujeet Kalkal and Aman Sehrawat, along with silver medalist Nitesh Kumar, expressed their ambitions of securing medals at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, while reflecting on the dedication and support that led to their success at the continental event.

India's Best Wrestling Performance in Decades

India achieved its most successful wrestling campaign at the Asian Games in over sixty years, concluding the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 event with a total of six medals: two gold, two silver, and two bronze. Sujeet and Aman emerged victorious in their respective freestyle categories, while Antim Panghal and Nitesh Siwach earned silver medals. Deepak Punia and Sunil Kumar contributed with bronze medals.

Sujeet's Historic Gold Medal Win

Sujeet secured India's first Asiad gold in wrestling since the Jakarta-Palembang 2018 edition by defeating Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the men's freestyle 65kg final. Despite trailing 2-9 with just over a minute left, Sujeet showcased remarkable resilience, executing multiple takedowns to clinch victory with only eleven seconds remaining.

Reflecting on his achievement, Sujeet stated, "Winning a gold medal for my country fills me with immense pride. We will train hard to meet the expectations of our nation and aim for more gold medals."

Aman Sehrawat's Olympic Dreams

Aman Sehrawat, who triumphed over reigning world champion Han Chong Song in the 57kg final, aspires to hear the national anthem played in Los Angeles after winning gold. He dedicated his victory to India, expressing gratitude for the nation's support.

"I am thrilled and determined to perform even better in the future. Our national anthem will resonate at the LA Olympics," he remarked, crediting his coach Satpal Singh for his success.

Nitesh Kumar's Silver Medal Achievement

Nitesh Kumar, who earned a silver medal in the men's 97 kg Greco-Roman category, made history as the second Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to reach an Asian Games final, following Maruti Mane's achievement in 1962. He expressed gratitude for the support received and his desire for Olympic success.

"I feel honored and aim to continue winning medals. Although I aimed for gold, I am proud of my silver medal in my first Asian Games. We will strive to bring home medals from the Los Angeles Olympics," he stated.

A Historic Milestone for Indian Wrestling

India's six-medal achievement at Aichi-Nagoya marks a significant improvement over previous Asian Games performances. The country had previously secured two wrestling gold medals in Bangkok 1978 and Jakarta 2018, but only managed three medals at both events. The benchmark remains Jakarta 1962, where Indian wrestlers claimed twelve medals, including three golds. The Aichi-Nagoya event thus represents India's strongest wrestling performance since that historic campaign, with two golds highlighting the team's depth and talent.