India Shines at 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships with Silver and Bronze Medals
Lalit's Silver and Sunil's Bronze Highlight a Successful Day
On Tuesday, during the 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Lalit secured India's first medal, achieving a silver in the 55kg Greco-Roman category. Meanwhile, Nitesh advanced to the finals in the 97kg Greco-Roman category, and former champion Sunil Kumar added a bronze medal to his accolades, marking a successful day for the Indian team.
Lalit Achieves Silver in 55kg Final
Lalit, who previously defeated China's Huoying Shi in the semi-finals, faced a tough challenge against Ikhtiyor Botirov from Uzbekistan in the final. Despite his efforts, he lost with a score of 0-9, according to a press release.
Sunil Kumar's Resilient Bronze Win
In the 87kg bronze medal match, Sunil Kumar made a remarkable comeback after falling behind by four points in the first round. He ultimately triumphed over Uzbekistan's Mukhammadkodir Rasulov with a score of 5-4, earning his second consecutive bronze medal at the Asian Championships.
Nitesh Advances to 97kg Final
Earlier in the competition, Nitesh secured a place in the finals of the 97kg Greco-Roman category, aiming to surpass his performance from the 2025 Asian Championships. The 23-year-old, who won a bronze last year, defeated Zegang Wang of China with a score of 7-2 in the semi-finals, setting up a gold medal match against defending champion Mohammadhadi Saravi from Iran.
Impressive Semi-Final Display
During the semi-final, Nitesh capitalized on the par Terre (ground position) advantage awarded to the Chinese wrestler in the first round, scoring six points, including a notable four-point throw. He maintained strong defense in the second round to secure a comfortable victory.
India's Continued Medal Aspirations
India also has a chance to win a bronze medal in the 82kg Greco-Roman category, where Prince will compete against Didar Ammanazarov from Turkmenistan. Prince faced a setback in the semi-finals, losing 10-0 to Iran's Mohammadamin Hosseini.
Aman Faces Disappointment in Bronze Match
Aman experienced heartbreak in the 77kg Greco-Roman bronze medal match, narrowly losing 14-15 to South Korea's Yeonghun Noh. Despite recovering from a 7-12 deficit at the end of the first round, he fell just short by a single point.
Sachin Sahrawat's Repechage Opportunity
Sachin Sahrawat, competing in the 67kg Greco-Roman category, will also have a chance at a bronze medal after qualifying for the Repechage round. He is set to face China's Ji Leng on Wednesday.