New Delhi, 05 October (H.S.): The Indian wrestling contingent delivered a strong performance at the recently concluded 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, winning six medals. India secured two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

The wrestling competition, held in Japan from September 30 to October 3, produced India's second-best performance in wrestling at the Asian Games. India's only better showing came at the 1962 Asian Games, where Indian wrestlers won a total of 12 medals. India fielded wrestlers in 15 of the 18 weight categories and won medals across all three disciplines—freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling. During the competition, Indian wrestlers also defeated Olympic champions, reigning world champions and athletes ranked No. 1 in the world.

Sujeet and Aman Win Gold

Making his Asian Games debut in the 65 kg freestyle category, Sujeet Kalkal won the gold medal. Ranked second in the world, Sujeet defeated Japan's 2024 Olympic gold medallist Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinals after the bout ended 3-3, winning on criteria. In the final, he defeated Tajikistan's Abdulmajid Kudiev 10-9 to clinch the gold. He became only the third Indian wrestler to win an Asian Games gold medal in the 65 kg freestyle category.

Aman Sehrawat also secured a historic gold medal in the 57 kg freestyle category. Ranked 32nd in the world, Aman defeated North Korea's world No. 1 and 2025 world champion Chon Song Han 11-7 in the final. It was India's first Asian Games gold medal in this weight category.

Nitesh and Antim Panghal Win Silver

Nitesh won the silver medal in the 97 kg Greco-Roman category. He became only the second Indian wrestler in 64 years to reach a Greco-Roman final at the Asian Games. Before him, Maruti Mane had won silver in the 97 kg category at the 1962 Asian Games. Nitesh had won his semifinal bout 9-0 in less than two minutes.

In the women's 53 kg category, world No. 1 Antim Panghal claimed the silver medal. She defeated a fifth-ranked wrestler on her way to the final and won two of her bouts without conceding a single point. Her silver marked an improvement on the bronze medal she won in 2023.

Sunil and Deepak Win Bronze

Sunil Kumar won the bronze medal in the 87 kg Greco-Roman category. By securing a bronze medal at consecutive Asian Games following his 2023 success, he became the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win medals at two successive editions of the Asian Games. He won the bronze-medal bout 9-0 in less than two minutes.

Deepak Punia won bronze in the 97 kg freestyle category. Competing in a new weight class, Deepak lost his semifinal bout 8-9 but bounced back to win the bronze-medal bout 2-1. It was India's first medal in this weight category in 60 years.

Wrestlers Who Missed Out on Medals Also Made Their Mark

In the 74 kg freestyle category, Sagar Jaglan finished fifth. Returning after a lengthy injury layoff, Sagar defeated Tulga Tumur Ochir, the 2023 Asian Games champion in the 65 kg category and world No. 1 in the 70 kg division, as well as 2024 Olympic gold medallist Razambek Zhamalov.

Mansi in the 62 kg category and Deepanshi in the 50 kg category both finished fifth, missing out on medals by just one bout. It was Deepanshi's Asian Games debut. Manisha Bhanwala, making her debut in the 57 kg category, finished seventh. She was defeated 3-0 by 2024 Olympic champion and 2023 Asian Games gold medallist Akari Fujinami.

Best Performance of the 21st Century

India's six-medal haul in 2026 comprised two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. India had also won two gold medals in 1978 and 2018, but its six-medal tally in 2026 is its second-best overall performance at the Asian Games since the 12 medals won in 1962. India has won medals of all three colours at the Asian Games in 1962, 1970, 1982, 2014 and now in 2026.

Six Indian wrestlers—including Sujeet, Sagar, Deepanshi, Manisha, Rajat Ruhal and Priya Malik—made their Asian Games debuts during the campaign. India's performance came against some of Asia's strongest wrestlers, with several bouts being decided by extremely narrow margins or on criteria.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar