India’s Wrestlers Shine in Bishkek: Strong Finish at the Asian Wrestling Championships

India concluded its campaign at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with a commendable haul of 17 medals, demonstrating depth across men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman disciplines. The campaign saw dominant performances, closely contested finals, and a solid team effort that placed India among the top contenders on the continental stage.

On the final day of competition, India added two silver medals and one bronze to its tally. Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat fought a high-scoring bout in the men’s 61kg freestyle final, narrowly losing 13-10 to Kwang Myong Kim of North Korea, securing a silver medal. In the men’s 86kg freestyle category, Mukul Dahiya claimed silver after a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Iran’s two-time Asian champion Kamran Ghasempour. The concluding bronze was earned by Dinesh in the men’s 125kg freestyle, where he beat Shamil Sharipov of Bahrain 7-1.

Earlier in the championships, India’s wrestlers had struck gold in key bouts. Sujeet Kalkal justified his rising reputation by winning the men’s 65kg freestyle gold, dominating Umidjon Jalolov of Uzbekistan 8-1 — a performance that continued his strong form in international events this year. In the men’s 70kg freestyle final, Abhimanyou Mandwal clinched gold with a 5-3 win over Mongolia’s Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga, underscoring India’s competitiveness in mid-weight categories.

India’s overall medal tally stood at two gold, six silver, and nine bronze medals, reflecting breadth across styles and weight classes. The men’s freestyle wrestlers contributed the majority of the medals, while the women’s squad secured valuable podium finishes, and Greco-Roman wrestlers also added to the tally. The diverse distribution highlighted the strength of Indian wrestling beyond individual stars.

The performance in Bishkek not only showcased individual excellence, but also India’s potential on the broader Asian wrestling stage. The team’s consistency and ability to reach medal bouts across categories suggest a promising trajectory as athletes prepare for future continental and global competitions.

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