In a resounding statement of India’s growing strength in wrestling, the nation’s grapplers brought home a phenomenal 14 medals at the Yasar Dogu and Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan International Tournament, held in Kocaeli, Turkey 🇹🇷.
This prestigious event witnessed top wrestling talent from across the globe, but it was the Indian contingent both women and men who lit up the mat with dominant performances, unwavering grit, and championship spirit.
A Golden Campaign for Indian Wrestling 🇮🇳
India’s medal tally at the tournament stood at an impressive 5 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze, showcasing success across all three disciplines: Women’s Wrestling (WW), Men’s Freestyle (FS), and Greco-Roman (GR). Notably, India’s women and freestyle wrestlers stole the spotlight, accounting for 11 of the 14 medals.
Gold Medal Winners 🥇
- Neha Sangwan – Women’s 57 kg
- Manisha (TOPS Athlete) – Women’s 62 kg
- Harshita – Women’s 72 kg
- Aman Sehrawat (TOPS Athlete) – Men’s Freestyle 57 kg
- Pushpa – Women’s 55 kg (Mentioned in some event summaries)
Each gold medalist demonstrated technical brilliance and mental toughness. Manisha and Neha completely dominated their respective weight categories, with Harshita putting in a commanding performance in the 72kg class. Aman Sehrawat added a cherry on top with a standout win against compatriot Rahul in an all-Indian 57kg final.
Silver Medallists 🥈
India also had a strong showing in the finals with four silver medals:
- Rahul (TOPS Athlete) – Men’s Freestyle 57 kg
- Udit (TOPS Athlete) – Men’s Freestyle 61 kg
- Anil Mor – Men’s Greco-Roman 55 kg
- Chetan – Men’s Greco-Roman 63 kg
In an intriguing 57kg final, Aman edged past Rahul in an all-Indian showdown, ensuring gold and silver both returned home. Meanwhile, Udit fought valiantly to clinch silver in the highly competitive 61kg freestyle event. The Greco-Roman wrestlers often overshadowed by their freestyle counterparts put up a solid show, with both Anil and Chetan reaching the final in their respective categories.
Bronze Medal Winners 🥉
- Neelam – Women’s 55 kg
- Rohit – Men’s Freestyle 65 kg
- Vishal Kaliram – Men’s Freestyle 70 kg
- Deepak Punia (TOPS Athlete) – Men’s Freestyle 92 kg
- Suraj – Men’s Greco-Roman 55 kg
Veteran and Olympian Deepak Punia added to India’s tally with a well-earned bronze in the 92kg category. Neelam’s performance in the 55kg division contributed to the women’s team finishing as runner-up in the overall team rankings. Meanwhile, Kaliram and Rohit ensured India’s consistency across weight categories by finishing strong on the final day.
Women Wrestlers Lead the Charge 💪
India’s women’s wrestling team had a particularly remarkable run, bringing home four golds and one bronze from just six participants an 83% conversion rate. With this performance, India finished second in the overall women’s team rankings, behind only the host nation Turkey. Kazakhstan rounded out the podium in third.
This dominance is a testament to the ongoing efforts under Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which continue to identify and nurture world-class talent among women grapplers. Wrestlers like Manisha and Pushpa have become household names in India’s wrestling ecosystem, and performances like these only reinforce their elite status.
A Strong Finish on the Final Day
The tournament concluded on a high note for India, with three freestyle medals coming on the final day:
- 🥈 Udit – 61kg
- 🥉 Vishal Kaliram – 70kg
- 🥉 Deepak Punia – 92kg
These results highlighted India’s depth in freestyle wrestling and the emergence of new talent ready to take on the international stage.
Youth Wrestling Also Shows Promise
While the seniors were excelling in Turkey, India’s Under-17 grapplers were making waves at the Asian U-17 Wrestling Championships in Vung Tau, Vietnam. The team secured three golds and two bronzes, with stand-out performances from:
- Gaurav Punia – Gold (65 kg)
- Arjun Ruhil – Gold (92 kg)
- Lacky – Gold (110 kg)
- Shivam – Bronze (45 kg)
- Dhanraj Ganapati – Bronze (51 kg)
Although the team missed out on a top-three finish overall, these results underline the immense potential at the grassroots and junior levels in Indian wrestling.
A Testament to Structured Development
India’s success at the Yasar Dogu and Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Tournament is no accident. It reflects:
- Better training facilities and exposure trips
- Support from schemes like TOPS and Khelo India
- Consistent investment in coaching, science, and analytics
- A growing culture of wrestling in both rural and urban India
From Olympic veterans to first-time international medallists, the breadth of India’s wrestling talent is widening geographically, technically, and generationally.
This tournament not only provides valuable ranking points but also boosts India’s preparations for major events ahead, including:
- World Championships
- UWW Ranking Series events
- Asian Games (2026)
- Paris Olympic cycles for youth & seniors
With the kind of performance we witnessed in Turkey, India has clearly set the tone. Wrestlers like Aman Sehrawat, Manisha, and Deepak Punia are expected to play critical roles as India chases Olympic and World Championship success.
Final Medal Tally for India at Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan 2025:
🟡 Gold – 5 (WW: 4, FS: 1)
⚪ Silver – 4 (FS: 2, GR: 2)
🟤 Bronze – 5 (WW: 1, FS: 3, GR: 1)
Total: 14 Medals
Disciplines: 5 Women’s Wrestling, 6 Freestyle, 3 Greco-Roman
India’s campaign at the Yasar Dogu and Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan International in Turkey was nothing short of exceptional. With rising stars stepping into the limelight and established names continuing to deliver, Indian wrestling is entering a golden era.
Whether it’s young women dominating on debut, or seasoned campaigners holding the fort, the message is clear: India is no longer an underdog on the global mat it is a force to reckon with.
#IndiaWrestling #YasarDogu2025 #TOPS #KheloIndia #WrestlingChampions #IndianSports
