Category: Wrestling

Sujeet Kalkal’s emergence in the Year of 2025 represents more than an individual breakthrough. It marks a turning point in Indian freestyle wrestling one shaped by institutional reform, technical evolution, and the gradual restoration of meritocracy after years of administrative instability. Kalkal’s rise in the 65kg category has coincided with a critical reset within the…

The year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most defining and contradictory phases in Indian wrestling’s modern history. It was a season that exposed the stagnation of the senior elite on the world stage, even as a powerful new generation of junior and Under-23 wrestlers announced itself with authority. Layered beneath the competitive…

The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) has taken a significant step towards its long-awaited return by unveiling its new official logo ahead of the fifth season, scheduled for January 2026. Sanctioned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the rebranding marks the revival of India’s premier professional wrestling league after a seven-year hiatus and signals a…

International wrestling is set to enter a decisive new phase from January 1, 2026, as United World Wrestling (UWW) rolls out a comprehensive set of rule amendments aimed at reshaping how bouts are contested, officiated, and ultimately decided. While rule changes are nothing new in the sport’s long history, this latest package stands out for…

The 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championships, held in Ahmedabad from December 12–14, arrive at a pivotal moment for Indian wrestling. Not only do they mark the first major domestic competition after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but they also signal the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) full return to administrative control following its reinstatement in March…

Indian wrestling witnessed one of its most significant developments in recent years when Vinesh Phogat announced on December 12, 2025 that she was ending her 18-month retirement to pursue a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The declaration marks a dramatic new chapter in the career of a wrestler whose Olympic journey has…

The United World Wrestling, UWW 2026 calendar marks a defining moment for the sport, blending geographical expansion with a clear emphasis on operational reliability and athlete safety. Headlined by the Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain, and the U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, the calendar reflects UWW’s intent to grow wrestling into new regions…

The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set to return in January 2026 after a seven-year hiatus, with its rebranded avatar PWL 2.0 positioned as a structurally stronger and commercially de-risked league. Scheduled from January 15 to February 1, 2026, the entire season will be hosted at the Noida Indoor Stadium, a deliberate, centralized approach that…

The Wrestling Federation of India’s decision to lift the suspensions of Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat and junior wrestler Neha Sangwan has ignited a conversation that stretches far beyond the mat. Announced on November 14, 2025, the reversal marks a significant shift in tone from a federation that just weeks ago vowed to enforce strict…

India’s performance at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Novi Sad, Serbia, marks a turning point in the nation’s high-performance sporting journey. In a field dominated for decades by Japan, the U.S., and traditional European powers, India captured the Women’s Freestyle Team Title with 121 points, edging Japan (117) and the United States (106)…

After a six-year hiatus, the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set for a dramatic relaunch in January 2026, marking the return of India’s only franchise-based wrestling competition. The announcement by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) signals both optimism and risk: a chance to revive a once-successful league but under the cloud of ongoing governance…

After a six-year hiatus, the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is officially set to return in January 2026, signaling a bold new chapter for Indian wrestling. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) announced the relaunch on October 31, confirming a six-team format to be staged over an intensive 18-day window. More than a revival, the 2026…

India capped off a memorable campaign at the 9th U23 World Wrestling Championships with a total of nine medals one gold, two silver, and six bronze highlighting both the growing strength of Indian women’s wrestling and the emergence of a new star in men’s freestyle. The championship, held in Novi Sad, Serbia from October 20…

In Women’s wrestling, the competition is mostly between all countries to lose to Japan in the finals particularly in the lighter weight categories. Whenever we face a Japanese wrestler, we pray for a miracle. So, when I saw an Indian girl pin Ayaka Kimura from Japan, I realized, it’s no mean feat. That’s when I…

The 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, will go down as a defining event for Indian wrestling not merely for the medals won, but for what they revealed about the nation’s evolving sporting structure. India finished with a commendable nine medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze), showcasing moments of brilliance,…

In a landmark moment for Indian wrestling, 17-year-old Yashita Rana etched her name into history books by clinching India’s first-ever wrestling gold medal at the Asian Youth Games, held in Bahrain. Competing in the Girls’ 61kg Freestyle category, the Delhi grappler staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Zhaidar Mukat of Kazakhstan 6–5 on criteria in…

For years, Sujeet Kalkal’s name has lingered on the edges of Indian wrestling’s spotlight often mentioned as a prodigious talent, but one yet to find his defining moment. That moment finally arrived in Tirana, Albania, where Sujeet produced a series of inspired performances to be crowned the U23 World Champion in men’s 65kg freestyle. In…

India’s Sujeet Kalkal delivered one of the most remarkable performances by an Indian freestyle wrestler on the global stage, storming into the final of the men’s 65kg category at the U23 Wrestling World Championships 2025 in Belgrade. The 22-year-old, who won bronze in the previous edition, produced a string of stunning victories to become the…

Indian women’s wrestling scaled a new peak in Novi Sad, Serbia, as the Indian Women’s Wrestling Team clinched the Team Title at the 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships a result that cements India’s place among the world’s wrestling powerhouses. The team collected 121 points (as per Indian Wrestling Federation tally) and finished ahead of Japan…

India’s Hansika Lamba delivered a remarkable performance at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 53 kg freestyle category. Despite falling 0-4 in the final to Japan’s Haruna Morikawa, the 22-year-old Indian wrestler can take immense pride in her dominant run through the earlier rounds that secured India’s first…

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has indefinitely suspended Greco-Roman wrestler Sanjeev (55kg category) following the discovery of major inconsistencies in his official identity and domicile documents. The federation’s disciplinary order, signed by WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh, cites “serious discrepancies” between records from Delhi and Haryana including conflicting birth certificates, residency claims, and federal…

It was a historic night for Indian women’s wrestling in Belgrade, Serbia, as the nation’s U23 contingent delivered its finest-ever collective performance at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025. Four Indian wrestlers Pulkit (65kg), Neha Sharma (57kg), Nishu (55kg), and Srishti (68kg) — won bronze medals, while Sarika (59kg) and Hansika Lamba (53kg) stormed into…

It was a day of mixed fortunes for India at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in  Novi Sad, but one that still reflected the rising depth and resilience of the country’s young women wrestlers. With four Indian wrestlers entering the bronze medal matches (BMMs), the contingent showcased both promise and perseverance at the global stage….

India’s campaign at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Tirana began on a proud note, thanks to Vishvajit More, who continued his remarkable consistency on the international stage. The 22-year-old Greco-Roman wrestler secured a bronze medal in the men’s 55kg category, defeating reigning Asian Champion Yerassyl Mamyrbekov of Kazakhstan in a thrilling 5–4 bout…

The opening day of the 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, was a sobering reminder of the growing gulf between India’s Greco-Roman wrestlers and the world’s best. In a competition meant to showcase the next generation of talent, India’s campaign started and ended on Day 1 itself, as all four Indian wrestlers…

The 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, offered Indian wrestling a reality check. What unfolded was not simply another campaign but a study in contrasts moments of resilience and achievement from the women’s squad overshadowed by disappointment and systemic failings on the men’s side. India ended with a solitary bronze medal, courtesy of Antim…

India’s young wrestling star Antim Panghal delivered yet another historic performance, winning the bronze medal in the women’s 53kg category at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb. The 21-year-old from Hisar defeated Sweden’s Jonna Malmgren, a two-time European champion and reigning U23 World Champion, in commanding fashion with a 9-1 victory by points (VPO)….

India’s wrestling prodigy Antim Panghal once again showcased her grit and skill at the 2025 Wrestling World Championships, advancing to the semifinals in the women’s 53kg category before falling narrowly to Ecuador’s Olympic silver medallist Lucia Yepez Guzman. The 19-year-old lost 3–5 in a tense contest, but her campaign is still alive as she will…

It was a day to forget for the Indian men’s freestyle wrestling contingent at the Wrestling World Championships in Zagreb, as all wrestlers except Mukul Dahiya in action bowed out in their opening bouts. India’s campaign on Saturday ended without a single victory, underlining both the competitiveness of the field and the challenges that still…

As the 2025 World Wrestling Championships kick off today, September 13, at Arena Zagreb, the Indian men’s freestyle squad stands poised to make a statement on the global stage. With over 900 athletes vying for 30 gold medals across freestyle, women’s, and Greco-Roman categories, this nine-day event (running through September 21) serves as a critical…

The 2025 World Wrestling Championships, set to unfold at Arena Zagreb in Croatia from September 13 to 21, represent more than just another global tournament. As the first major wrestling event after the Paris Olympics, it carries the weight of renewal—an opportunity for nations to recalibrate, test emerging talent, and signal their intent for the…

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…

Day four of the World U20 Wrestling Championships turned out to be a memorable one for India as its young wrestlers produced spirited performances across weight categories. The spotlight, however, firmly rested on Kajal, who stunned defending champion Jasmine Robinson (USA) in the women’s 72kg semifinals to storm into the gold medal match. With Shruti…

In a performance that will be remembered for years, Kajal, one of India’s brightest young wrestling talents, stormed into the women’s 72kg final at the World U20 Wrestling Championships with a stunning 13-6 victory over defending champion Jasmine Robinson of the USA. The semifinal clash was billed as one of the toughest tests of Kajal’s…

For Indian wrestling, few names carry as much weight among the new generation as Priya Malik. On Wednesday in Samokov, Bulgaria, the 19-year-old once again underlined why she is considered the future of India’s heavyweight division. With three commanding wins, she stormed into the final of the women’s 76kg category at the U20 World Wrestling…

The Indian contingent enjoyed a productive and eventful day at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, with a mix of highs and near-misses that reflected both the promise and challenges of the country’s young wrestlers on the world stage. The highlight came from Tapsya, who clinched India’s first gold medal of this edition…

India’s Reena, already an established name at the Asian U20 and U23 levels, took another massive step forward in her career at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria. Wrestling in the 55kg category, she produced a string of commanding performances to storm into the final, underlining her credentials as one of India’s brightest…

Indian wrestling marked one of its strongest days at the U20 World Wrestling Championships on Tuesday, securing two spots in the finals of women’s wrestling. Tapasya (57kg) and Srishti (68kg) both advanced after memorable semifinal victories, underlining India’s growing stature on the world stage. With this, India joined Japan as the only countries to place…

In the quiet wrestling town of Samokov, Bulgaria, Tuesday night brought a moment that will be etched in Indian sporting history. A 19-year-old wrestler from India, Tapasya, walked onto the mat as the underdog and walked off having conquered a giant. Her opponent in the U20 World Championships semifinal was Sowaka Uchida of Japan a…

At the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, India celebrated a double delight on Tuesday as two of its young women broke into the finals. While Tapasya stunned the world with her upset of Sowaka Uchida at 57kg, her teammate Srishti reinforced India’s growing reputation with a measured and dominant run to the 68kg…

The U20 World Wrestling Championships continued with high-paced action on Monday, and Indian wrestlers produced a day of mixed fortunes. While Sumit Malik (57kg freestyle) stormed into the final with two standout performances, Amit (79kg freestyle) narrowly missed a spot in the gold medal bout but remains in contention for bronze.  Elsewhere, Vishal (97kg freestyle)…

Indian wrestling continued its upward surge on the global stage as the nation’s U17 contingent produced a memorable campaign at the 2025 U17 World Wrestling Championships in Athens. Across a week of gripping competition, India collected nine medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) and finished third overall in the medals tally. The headline story…

The U20 World Wrestling Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, produced a day of highs and heartbreaks for India’s freestyle contingent. Out of four wrestlers in action, only Vishal (97kg) managed to reach the semifinals, while Sagar (70kg), Parvinder Singh (74kg), and Jaspooran (125kg) bowed out after narrow defeats. The results underlined both India’s growing competitiveness at…

The Greco-Roman leg of the U20 World Wrestling Championships 2025, scheduled for August 23–24 in Samokov, Bulgaria, promises to be a high-intensity finale to the eight-day wrestling spectacle. Traditionally dominated by Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, Greco-Roman wrestling remains one of the most challenging disciplines for India, but this year’s squad brings a glimmer of…

The U20 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Samokov, Bulgaria, is set to be a landmark event for women’s wrestling. Over three days (August 20–22), the brightest young stars will battle it out in what is often considered the most exciting segment of the U20s. Women’s wrestling at this level has consistently produced future Olympic champions,…