India Shines at 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships with Two Golds

India's wrestling team made a significant impact at the 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with Sujeet and Abhimanyou clinching gold medals. Sujeet dominated the men's 65kg final, while Abhimanyou overcame a deficit to secure victory in the men's 70kg category. With additional opportunities for gold on the final day, including Aman and Mukul Dahiya in their respective weight classes, the Indian contingent aims to enhance their medal tally further. Read on for more details about their remarkable performances and upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 11, 2026, 21:25 IST

Sujeet and Abhimanyou Triumph

At the 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Indian wrestlers Sujeet and Abhimanyou achieved remarkable victories, securing gold medals on the second last day of the event.

Sujeet, the reigning World U-23 champion, showcased his dominance in the men's 65kg freestyle final, defeating Uzbekistan's Umidjon Jalolov with a score of 8-1. This victory marks him as the first Indian to win gold in this weight class since Bajrang Punia's success in 2019, according to a statement from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Although Sujeet started cautiously, Jalolov managed to hold him off initially. However, the 23-year-old Indian wrestler quickly turned the tide in the second round, achieving his fifth win over Jalolov.

Shortly after, Abhimanyou added to India's medal tally by overcoming a 0-2 deficit to triumph over Mongolia's Tulga Tumur Ochir with a score of 5-3 in the men's 70kg freestyle final. Sandeep Mann had an opportunity to secure a third gold for India but narrowly lost 1-2 in a tightly contested final in the men's 79kg category.

Earlier in the competition, Ankush secured a bronze medal in the men's 57kg freestyle by defeating Japan's Fuga Sasaki 8-2, bringing India's total medal count to two golds, four silvers, and eight bronzes.

India Eyes More Gold Medals

On the final day of the championships, India is poised to compete for two additional gold medals. Aman (men's 61kg freestyle) and Mukul Dahiya (men's 86kg freestyle) have both advanced to the finals.

Aman, who previously earned a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in the 57kg category and won gold at the Asian Championships two years ago, is now competing in a higher weight class. In a thrilling semi-final, he edged out Iran's Ahmad Mohammadnezhadjavan with an 11-9 victory. He will face North Korea's Kwang M Kim in the final.

In the 86kg category, Mukul Dahiya initially fell behind in his semi-final bout against Kazakhstan's Bolat Sakayev but rallied back to win 12-6, securing his place in the final against Kamran Ghasempour of Iran.

Additionally, Dinesh will compete for a bronze medal in the men's 125kg freestyle after losing his semi-final match against Bahrain's Shamil Sharipov.