India’s campaign at the U20 Wrestling World Championships 2025 continued to gain momentum on Thursday, with Kajal’s gold medal in the women’s 72kg category leading the way.
The former U17 world champion displayed grit and resilience to overcome China’s Yuqi Liu 8-6 in a gripping final. The medal was India’s second gold of the competition and the highlight of a day that also saw three bronze medals secured by Shruti, Saarika, and Suraj Vashist, underlining the country’s growing depth in youth wrestling. While India celebrated these podium finishes, the day was also filled with dramatic bouts that showcased the unforgiving nature of world-level competition, with wrestlers like Anil Mor falling agonizingly short despite valiant efforts.
Kajal Steps Up, Wins Historic Gold
India’s brightest star of the day was undoubtedly Kajal, who added a U20 world title to her U17 crown from last year. Wrestling in the 72kg women’s freestyle, Kajal was up against China’s Yuqi Liu, a dangerous opponent with strong leg attacks. Kajal started aggressively, using snapdowns to create openings and build a commanding 6-0 lead through three clean takedowns. However, Liu fought back, catching Kajal in a cradle position after a leg attack. The Indian barely managed to escape, but the scare narrowed her lead to 6-4.
In the tense closing minutes, both wrestlers traded takedowns, but Kajal held her composure to close out an 8-6 victory. With this win, Kajal completed a remarkable progression U17 world gold in 2024 followed by U20 gold in 2025 and confirmed her reputation as one of India’s brightest young prospects on the global stage.
Bronze Medal Haul: Shruti, Saarika, and Suraj Shine
India added three more medals to the tally, ensuring it was a day of all-round success.
- Shruti (Women’s 50kg): The young wrestler produced a clinical performance to beat Germany’s Josephine Wrensch 6-0 in the bronze medal match. Shruti’s sharp double-leg attacks and solid defense gave her a well-deserved podium finish.
- Saarika (Women’s 53kg): Showing complete dominance, Saarika thrashed Poland’s Ilona Valchuk 11-0 by technical superiority. Her aggressive attacking style left her opponent with no chance and marked another emphatic win for the Indian contingent.
- Suraj Vashist (Greco-Roman 60kg): India also tasted success in the Greco-Roman category, thanks to Suraj Vashist. The former U17 world champion showed immense maturity to edge past France’s Lucas Kevin Lo Grasso on criteria after a 1-1 draw. This bronze was particularly significant as it opened India’s account in the Greco-Roman discipline, an area where medals have traditionally been harder to come by.
These results highlighted India’s versatility across styles and weight classes, with both men and women contributing to the medal count.
Near Miss: Anil Mor’s Heartbreak
While India celebrated medals, there was heartbreak for Anil Mor in the men’s Greco-Roman 55kg category. Mor, who had looked sharp in his opening bout with an 8-0 win over Bulgaria’s Yordan Topalov, came agonizingly close to reaching the semifinals.
Facing Azerbaijan’s Turan Dashdamirov, the 2024 U17 world champion, Mor put on a spirited show in a wild contest. Dashdamirov surged ahead with a four-point throw and a penalty against Mor, but the Indian clawed back with three takedowns and a turn, leveling the bout at 9-9. Unfortunately, criteria worked against Mor, as Dashdamirov’s big move earlier in the bout gave him the edge. Despite more than a minute left on the clock, Mor couldn’t find another opening, and Dashdamirov advanced 9-9 on criteria. For Mor, it was a bitter exit, but his performance showcased his ability to compete at the very highest level.
The championships were buzzing with dramatic bouts across categories, though many did not directly involve Indian wrestlers. Some highlights included:
- At 55kg, Iran’s Payam Ahmadi Balootaki stunned UWW neutral athlete Ivan Solomin, scoring a last-second takedown to win 6-4.
- At 72kg, Greece’s Arionas Kolitsopoulos pulled off a stunning four-point throw in the final seconds to beat Hungary’s Mate Vegh 6-5, celebrating with a sword gesture.
- At 67kg, Erzu Zakriev (UWW) continued his dominant run, storming into the final as he chases a second straight U20 world title.
- In men’s 97kg, Ukraine’s Yehor Yakushenko pinned Poland’s Sebastian Warchol after racing to a 9-0 lead, underlining why he is the category’s defending champion.
For India, these results serve as a reminder of the fierce global competition awaiting its young wrestlers as they graduate to senior levels.
The performances highlight a growing trend India is no longer dependent on one or two stars in youth wrestling. Instead, the country is building depth across both men’s and women’s divisions, and crucially, across both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Kajal’s progression from U17 to U20 titles is particularly encouraging, as it mirrors the trajectories of senior champions who made their mark early in age-group competitions.
Similarly, the bronze medal runs of Shruti and Saarika add to India’s strength in the lighter women’s categories, which have traditionally yielded Olympic success. Equally important was Suraj Vashist’s bronze in Greco-Roman. For years, India has struggled to translate potential into results in this style, but Suraj’s victory achieved with tactical intelligence and composure suggests a shift may be underway.
The championships are far from over, and India still has athletes in medal contention. The confidence gained from Kajal’s gold and the multiple bronzes could provide the momentum needed for others to step up. For the Wrestling Federation of India, the results also validate the recent emphasis on giving younger wrestlers international exposure through ranking series and continental events. Kajal, Suraj, and Anil Mor all came into Winnipeg with prior experience of major competitions a factor that clearly played a role in their strong performances.
Day 3 of the U20 Wrestling World Championships was a celebration of Indian resilience and emerging talent. Kajal’s gold medal win over China’s Yuqi Liu epitomized the spirit of belief and determination, while the bronze medals for Shruti, Saarika, and Suraj reinforced India’s reputation as a rising force in world wrestling. Though heartbreaks like Anil Mor’s narrow defeat remain part of the story, the overall trend is unmistakable: India’s youth wrestlers are learning to fight, adapt, and win on the world stage.
As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, Indian fans can look forward with optimism. The next generation has already announced its arrival, and with every takedown, throw, and pin, they are shaping a future where India is not just a challenger but a true powerhouse in wrestling.
