India Shines at U23 Asian Championships with Five Medals in Greco-Roman Wrestling

India's Strong Start at the Championships

India kicked off its Greco-Roman wrestling campaign at the U23 Asian Championships with a remarkable performance, clinching five medals on the first day of the event held at the Tien Son Sport Centre in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Saturday. Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh each secured silver medals, while Kumar Sachin, Rohit, and Hardeep contributed bronze medals in their respective weight classes.

Medal Achievements

Suraj Singh showcased his skills in the 60kg category, reaching the finals but ultimately losing 0-4 to Kazakhstan's Aibek Aitbekov, earning a silver medal. Similarly, Sagar Singh performed admirably in the 67kg category but faced a 0-9 defeat by technical superiority against Uzbekistan's Aytjan Khalmakhanov in the final, also finishing with silver.

Kumar Sachin secured a bronze in the 77kg category despite a 3-10 loss to Kazakhstan's Alikhan Dursunov. Rohit narrowly missed a medal in the 97kg division, losing a close match 3-5 to Uzbekistan's Bekhruz Barnoev. Hardeep faced a 0-4 defeat against Kazakhstan's Jokhar Uzarov in the 130kg bout.

Other Competitors

Vinit (72kg) and Amit Gope (82kg) were eliminated after suffering defeats by technical superiority. Vinit lost 6-9 to Uzbekistan's Shakhzod Kuchkorov, while Amit was defeated 0-10 by Tajikistan's Muhammad Sultanzoda.

WFI President's Remarks

"The performance of our Greco-Roman wrestlers is commendable, finishing the opening day with five medals. Their determination and discipline on the mat reflect the progress Indian Greco-Roman wrestling is making at the continental level. I congratulate all medalists and wish the remaining wrestlers success in their upcoming matches," stated Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Recent Achievements in Greco-Roman Wrestling

In the previous U23 and U17 Asian Wrestling Championships held in Vietnam, India secured three medals in the U23 Greco-Roman category, including a gold by Sumit (63kg) and bronze medals by Ankit Gulia (72kg) and Nitesh (97kg). Additionally, India achieved five medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marking its best performance in this category at the continental senior event in the last five years.

Looking Ahead

India's Greco-Roman campaign will continue on Sunday, with Neeraj competing in the 55kg category qualification bout, alongside Sumit (63kg) and Rohit Bura (87kg), all aiming for podium finishes.