Indian Wrestlers Shine at Ulaanbaatar Open 2026 with Multiple Medals
Successful Conclusion for Indian Wrestlers
Indian wrestlers concluded the Ulaanbaatar Open 2026 on a triumphant note, with Dinesh Dhankhar (125kg) and Deepak (61kg) securing gold medals in their respective men's freestyle categories on Sunday. Overall, India achieved a remarkable total of 16 medals, which included eight golds, as reported by Olympics.com.
Gold Medal Highlights
Dinesh showcased his prowess by defeating Kazakhstan's U20 world champion Yedige Kassimbek with a score of 2-0 in a tightly contested final, marking a significant achievement in his wrestling career.
Deepak also excelled, winning the gold medal in the 61kg category by overpowering Kazakhstan's Assyl Aitakyn with a decisive 6-0 victory in the final.
Path to Victory for Dinesh and Deepak
Dinesh's journey to the gold included a quarter-final win against Poland's World Championships bronze medallist Robert Baran, where he triumphed 5-1. He then dominated the semi-finals with an 11-0 technical superiority victory over Timur Kotaev. Earlier this season, he had also earned a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open.
Deepak began his tournament strongly, achieving a 6-0 victory over Bair Baianduev in the quarter-finals, followed by a 7-1 win against Kazakhstan's Adilet Almukhamedov in the semi-finals, which propelled him to the final.
Bronze Medal Achievements
On the final day of the Ulaanbaatar Open 2026, India added two bronze medals to their tally. In the men's 57kg category, Sumit rebounded from a quarter-final defeat to claim victory over Kazakhstan's Abzal Okenov with a score of 6-3 in the bronze medal match. Earlier, he had secured a win against South Korea's Sangboum Han by technical superiority before facing Musa Mekhtikhanov in the quarter-finals.
Mohit Kumar also earned a bronze in the 65kg division, defeating Kazakhstan's Ossimzhan Dastanbek with a score of 17-6 in the medal match. He kept his hopes alive through repechage, where he overcame the USA's Christopher James Composto.
India's Impressive Medal Count
India's overall performance at the four-day competition was commendable, finishing with a total of 16 medals, including eight golds. In men's freestyle, Sagar Jaglan clinched the 74kg title, while in women's wrestling, Kajal Dhochak (76kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), and Neha Sangwan (59kg) also secured gold medals. Additionally, on the opening day in Mongolia, Greco-Roman wrestlers Sunil Kumar (87kg) and Nitesh Kumar (97kg) achieved gold as well.
