Bhubaneswar : In a remarkable display of skill and determination, India’s Hardeep emerged as the world champion in the men’s 110kg Greco-Roman wrestling category at the 2025 U-17 World Wrestling Championships held in Athens, Greece. The 16-year-old wrestler clinched the gold medal by prevailing over Iran’s Yazdan Delrouz on criteria after a fiercely contested bout ended in a 3-3 tie.
This victory marks a historic milestone as Hardeep becomes the first-ever Indian heavyweight wrestler in Greco-Roman style to win a World Championship gold. His triumph not only brought India’s first gold medal at the U-17 World Wrestling Championships in 2025 but also highlights the growing prowess of Indian wrestlers in a discipline traditionally dominated by other nations.
Hardeep’s journey to the final was impressive, including a semi-final win against Turkey’s Emrullah Capkan, setting the stage for his ultimate showdown with Delrouz. The win is especially significant given the intense competition and the global prestige of the annual tournament held at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the same venue used for wrestling at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
While Hardeep’s gold shines bright, other Indian participants faced tough challenges. Wrestlers Aditya Gupta (55kg) and Anuj (65kg) narrowly missed out on bronze medals, losing their respective bouts. Several other Indian wrestlers, including Nitin (92kg), Vinit (71kg), Ritesh (60kg), and Yuvraj Siddhu Kamanna (51kg), also bowed out in the earlier rounds.
The U-17 World Wrestling Championships is a prestigious event that brings together the world’s best young wrestling talent. It features competitions across men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman styles, with medals contested in various weight categories. This year, the meet ran from July 28 to August 3, 2025, and saw strong participation from global wrestling powerhouses.
Hardeep’s historic gold is a testament to his dedication and the rising standards of Indian wrestling on the world stage. It is expected to inspire many young athletes in India to pursue Greco-Roman wrestling and continue elevating the country’s status in international wrestling.
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