Lalit Aims for Gold at Asian Wrestling Championships 2026

Lalit Set to Compete for Gold

Lalit, a former bronze medallist at the U-23 Asian Championships, is set to compete for the gold medal in the men's 55kg Greco-Roman category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday. Additionally, two other Indian wrestlers are vying for bronze medals.

Lalit's Path to the Final

The 23-year-old wrestler showcased his skills by defeating China's Huoying Shi with a score of 11-3 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Aman (77 kg Greco-Roman) and former champion Sunil Kumar (87 kg Greco-Roman) faced defeats in their respective semifinals, marking a mixed day for the Indian team.

Having recently secured a bronze medal at the Muhamet Malo Wrestling meet, Lalit will now face Ikhtiyor Botirov from Uzbekistan, who earned a bronze at the 2025 Asian Championships, after he triumphed over local favourite Ulan Uulu with a score of 5-3.

Aman and Sunil's Quest for Bronze

In the 77 kg Greco-Roman semifinal, Aman lost to Iran's Ali Oskou, a Zagreb Open gold medallist, with a score of 13-3.

Aman had previously come back from a 1-4 deficit to win 6-4 against China's Halishan Bahejiang in the quarterfinals. He will now compete against South Korea's Yeonghun Noh for the bronze medal.

Sunil Kumar, the 2020 Asian champion, was defeated in his 87kg Greco-Roman semifinal by Gholamreza Farokhisenjani of Iran, with a score of 0-8.

Other Indian Wrestlers' Results

In the 65kg Greco-Roman category, Sunny Kumar was eliminated in the qualification round by Kazakhstan's Saifulla Kurman.

Joginder Rathee also faced elimination in the men's 130kg Greco-Roman category after losing in the quarterfinals to South Korea's Minseok Kim. The Korean wrestler subsequently lost in the semifinals against Mirzazadeh of Iran, ending Joginder's hopes for a repechage round.

Upcoming Matches for Indian Wrestlers

On Tuesday, five more Indian wrestlers will take to the mat: Sahil (60kg GR), Sachin Sahrawat (67kg GR), Anil (72kg GR), Prince (82kg GR), and Nitesh (97kg GR).