Indian Wrestlers Shine at 2026 World Championships with Medal Triumphs

Celebrating Success at the Delhi Airport

By Adarsh Chauhan

New Delhi [India], November 1: Indian wrestlers Neelam Sirohi and Tanu Sharma were greeted with enthusiasm at the Delhi Airport on Sunday, celebrating their impressive performances at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships.

Neelam earned a silver medal in the women's 50kg division, while Tanu secured a bronze in the women's 72kg category, contributing to India's total of four medals at the event.

Neelam's Journey to Silver

In an interview, Neelam expressed her joy over winning silver for India at the senior World Championships, although she felt she could have performed better in the final due to a minor shoulder injury. She is determined to enhance her performance in upcoming competitions.

"Winning the silver medal for my country at the senior World Championship is a dream come true. I had a slight shoulder issue during the final match, which affected my performance. I believe I can do better next time," she stated.

Neelam faced off against Japan's Yui Susaki, a former Olympic champion and current world champion, in the gold medal match but was defeated 5-0 by fall.

Her journey began with a decisive 6-0 victory over Belarus' Natallia Varakina, and she advanced to the semi-finals after the top seed, Elizaveta Smirnova from Russia, withdrew due to injury. Neelam then triumphed over Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova with a score of 7-3 to secure her spot in the final.

Looking ahead, Neelam mentioned her focus on the Olympic qualifiers as her next goal.

"My next target is the Olympic qualifiers, and then I will focus on other competitions," she added.

When asked about the dominance of female wrestlers in India's medal tally at the championships, she emphasized that this should not create a divide between male and female athletes, expressing confidence that male wrestlers will also achieve success in the future.

"It's not about gender. The girls faced challenges at the Asian Games, but I believe the boys will also bring home medals in future events," she remarked.

At the 2026 Asian Games, India secured six wrestling medals, with only one being won by a female wrestler.

Tanu's Emotional Bronze Victory

Tanu Sharma also made headlines by winning bronze in the women's 72kg category after defeating Precious Bell, the reigning Pan American champion from the United States, with a score of 9-5 in the medal match.

Reflecting on her achievement, Tanu expressed her emotions, stating that winning the medal was a significant moment for her and the country.

"Words can't express how I feel; I'm overwhelmed. This medal represents not just my effort but the pride of our entire nation. It means a lot to me," she shared.

During her bronze-medal match against Bell, Tanu initially took a 3-0 lead but briefly shifted to a defensive strategy, allowing her opponent to score two points. However, she quickly returned to an aggressive approach, maintaining her lead to secure the victory.

"I started strong with a 3-0 lead, but then I went into defense mode, which allowed her to score. I switched back to an attacking style and managed to win the match," she explained.

India's Overall Performance

The Indian women's wrestling team concluded the 2026 World Wrestling Championships with a total of four medals. Manisha Bhanwala claimed gold in the 59kg category, while Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak both earned silver medals. Tanu Sharma's bronze in the 72kg category rounded out the impressive performance.