Asian Games 2026: India’s Wrestling Medal Story
Asian Games 2026: Indian Wrestling Wins Six Medals
India’s Indian Wrestling campaign at the Asian Games 2026 ended with six medals, including two gold, two silver and two bronze. The medal count matched India’s haul from Hangzhou 2023, but the two gold medals made this campaign a stronger one for the wrestling team. Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal emerged as the biggest winners, while the women’s side left with areas to improve.
Aman Sehrawat Leads India’s Wrestling Gold Rush
Aman Sehrawat delivered one of India’s biggest moments in Asian Games wrestling, winning gold in the 57kg freestyle category. He defeated DPR Korea’s Han Chong Song 11-7 in the final to claim the wrestling gold. His victory added another major achievement to the young wrestler’s growing career.
Sujeet Kalkal Produces a Big Wrestling Comeback
Sujeet Kalkal also finished with a wrestling gold, winning the 65kg freestyle title after a memorable campaign. One of his biggest moments came in the semifinal, where he defeated Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka. His gold gave India another major success in the men’s wrestling competition.
Women’s Wrestling Falls Short of Gold
The story was different in women’s wrestling, where India had to settle for one silver. Antim Panghal reached the 53kg final but lost 1-9 to Japan’s Mei Miyooka. Manisha Bhanwala also faced a tough challenge in the 57kg category, losing 0-3 to Olympic champion Akari Fujinami. The results showed that India’s women wrestlers still have ground to cover at the highest level.
Antim Panghal Takes Wrestling Silver
Despite missing the wrestling gold, Antim Panghal’s silver remained an important result for India. Her run to the final gave the Indian wrestlers another podium finish and kept India’s women’s wrestling campaign on the medal table.
Six Wrestling Medals for India
India finished with six wrestling medals — two gold, two silver and two bronze. Besides Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal and Antim Panghal, Nitesh Siwach won silver, while Deepak Punia and Sunil Kumar secured bronze medals. The overall wrestling results highlighted India’s strength in the men’s events while also pointing towards the need for greater consistency in women’s wrestling.
What the Asian Games Wrestling Campaign Shows
The Asian Games 2026 campaign was ultimately a positive medal story for Indian Wrestling, but it also exposed a clear gap. The men produced two gold-medal performances, while the women came close without converting their opportunities into gold. With bigger competitions ahead, India’s wrestlers will look to turn this six-medal campaign into an even stronger run next time.
