Nitesh Siwach Secures Silver Medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling at Asian Games 2026

Nitesh Siwach has achieved a historic milestone by winning a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. This victory not only marks the end of a 64-year wait for a medal in this category for India but also highlights Nitesh's inspiring journey from a young wrestler to an international medalist. His family, especially his father Anand, has played a crucial role in his wrestling career, supporting him through challenges, including a significant knee injury. With aspirations for the Olympics, Nitesh's dedication and hard work continue to shine, making his family and the nation proud.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 00:26 IST

Historic Achievement for Indian Wrestling

Wrestler Nitesh Siwach has made the nation proud by winning a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games 2026, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Thursday. This remarkable achievement marks the end of a 64-year drought for India in this wrestling category at the Asian Games.

Previously, the last medal in Greco-Roman wrestling was secured by Ganpat Andalkar, who won gold in the 97+ kg category, while Malwa Singh clinched gold in the 52 kg category during the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Nitesh, who is employed with the Indian Railways, hails from Jagsi village in Gohana, located in the Sonepat district, although his family resides in Sector 6, Panipat. His father, Anand Siwach, operates a milk business, sourcing milk from their village and distributing it in Panipat.

Born on October 21, 2002, into a farming family, Nitesh was introduced to wrestling by his father at a young age.

Anand Siwach shared with a local media outlet that Nitesh began his wrestling journey at the age of 5 or 6 in a village akhara, where he trained for 2-3 years before moving to the wrestling academy at Pratap School in Kharkhoda.

During his training at the academy, Nitesh faced a setback due to a knee injury that forced him to take a break. After undergoing surgery, he spent nearly two years recovering.

While recuperating, Nitesh assisted his father with the milk deliveries. Anand recounted that after some time, Nitesh expressed his desire to return to wrestling. As a former wrestler himself, Anand encouraged him to rejoin his team.

The family, which includes two sons of Anand's younger brother who also took up wrestling three years ago, is now focused on Nitesh's Olympic aspirations. Anand expressed hope that Nitesh would secure a medal at the Olympics as well.

Although they had hoped for gold, Anand stated that they are proud of the silver medal, which has brought joy not only to their family but to the entire nation. The family celebrated his victory by distributing ladoos.

Gunvanti, Nitesh’s mother, expressed her pride in his achievement, highlighting that he has brought honor to their village, state, and country on an international platform.

Nitesh has a fondness for 'choorma' and prefers home-cooked meals, which are prepared for him whenever he visits home.

In 2019, he earned a silver medal at the Cadet Asian Championships and followed it up with a bronze at the U23 World Championships three years later. In 2025, he secured a bronze at the Senior Asian Championships, which he improved to silver earlier this year.