Manisha Bhanwala Makes History with Gold at Senior World Wrestling Championships

Historic Victory for Indian Wrestling

On Friday, Manisha Bhanwala made a remarkable mark in Indian sports by becoming the first woman from India to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. She achieved this milestone in the 59kg final, showcasing her determination and strategic skill against Abigail Elizabeth Nette from the USA.

Despite facing a challenging start, trailing 0-6, Manisha mounted an impressive comeback to clinch the match with a score of 8-6. This victory not only highlights her personal achievement but also breaks new ground for Indian women's wrestling, as noted in a press release from the championships.

Prior to Manisha's groundbreaking win, India had not secured a gold in women's wrestling at this prestigious event. Her success surpasses the previous attempts of Anshu Malik in 2021 and her teammates Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi, who both earned silver medals in this year's competition.

Manisha's gold medal caps off a remarkable performance by the Indian women's team, which concluded the championships with a total of four medals.

In the men's freestyle events, Vicky Hooda's journey ended in the 97kg repechage round, where he faced Iranian wrestler Hassan Yazdani and lost by technical superiority with a score of 0-10.

The Indian men's freestyle wrestlers in the 61kg, 70kg, 86kg, and 125kg categories also exited the tournament in the preliminary rounds, failing to reach the semi-finals.

Overall, India secured four medals at the 2026 World Championships, with Manisha Bhanwala's gold in the 59kg category, alongside silver medals from Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi, and a bronze medal from Tanu Sharma in the 72kg category.