On a memorable day for Indian wrestling, two young wrestlers etched their names into history books by becoming U17 World Champions, while their teammates added crucial silver and bronze medals to complete a remarkable campaign at the 2025 U17 World Wrestling Championships in Athens.
The Indian contingent wrapped up its campaign with an impressive haul of two gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, underlining the country’s growing depth and potential in women’s wrestling.
Rachana opens the gold rush in style
India’s golden day began with Rachana in the women’s 43kg category. Facing China’s Xin Huang in the final, Rachana showed composure beyond her years, wrestling tactically and staying tight in defense to secure a 3-0 victory. This dominant win not only handed India its first gold of the tournament but also set the tone for the rest of the evening.
For a discipline that often sees tight margins and late-match swings, Rachana’s clean sheet keeping her opponent scoreless highlighted her technical control and big-match temperament. In a field where the slightest lapse can cost gold, her calm, methodical approach stood out as a blueprint for young wrestlers watching back home.
Ashvini Vishnoi’s perfect campaign in 65kg
As the spotlight shifted to the women’s 65kg category, it was Ashvini Vishnoi who stepped up and delivered India’s second gold. Taking on Uzbekistan’s Mukhayyo Rakhimjonova in the final, Ashvini showcased a similar defensive mastery, clinching a 3-0 victory.
Remarkably, Ashvini didn’t concede a single point throughout the entire tournament—a rare feat at this level. In a sport where even the world’s best occasionally drop points during scrambles, Ashvini’s consistency and defensive discipline speak volumes about her training and mental strength. Her title run not only adds to India’s medal tally but cements her status as one of the brightest prospects in India’s junior wrestling circuit.
Moni’s silver after a nail-biting finish
In the women’s 57kg category, Moni battled her way to the final, setting up a clash with Kazakhstan’s Madkhiya Usmanova. The bout proved to be among the tightest contests of the day, with Moni narrowly losing 5-6, settling for a silver medal.
Though the loss was painful, Moni’s silver came after a strong tournament performance, including victories over tough opponents in the earlier rounds. Matches like these, decided by a single point, are a reminder of how small details timing, grip, or a split-second reaction can decide world titles.
Yet, finishing as the world runner-up at just 17 promises much more to come for Moni as she graduates to senior competitions.
Defending champion Kajal’s tough final
Kajal, who entered Athens as the defending U17 World Champion in the women’s 73kg category, was aiming to repeat her triumph. In the final, she faced Wenjin Qiu of China. Kajal started well, but the Chinese wrestler capitalized on key moments to edge ahead, eventually defeating Kajal 8-5.
While Kajal had to settle for silver this time, her ability to return to the final two years in a row highlights her consistency at the world level. Staying among the very best in back-to-back championships shows resilience, skill, and adaptability traits that will serve her well as she transitions to the U20 and senior levels.
Komal Verma brings home bronze
In the women’s 49kg category, Komal Verma ensured India added one more medal to its tally. Facing Anhelina Burkina of UWW in the bronze medal match, Komal kept her focus to clinch victory and secure the podium.
Bronze medals often come after heart-breaking semifinal losses, and bouncing back within hours to win requires mental toughness and composure. Komal’s performance demonstrated both, rounding off India’s medal rush.
Five medals and a sign of growing depth
India’s final tally two gold, two silver, and one bronze shows not only standout individual brilliance but also the depth of young women’s wrestling talent coming through national and grassroots programs.
Rachana’s and Ashvini’s titles confirm India’s ability to produce world-class wrestlers at lighter and middleweight categories, while the silver medals from Moni and Kajal prove that Indian athletes can consistently reach the world’s biggest finals. Komal’s bronze, meanwhile, shows that even outside the spotlight, India has athletes capable of fighting their way to the podium.
These performances arrive at an important time for Indian wrestling, which has faced a year marked by senior-level controversies, doping issues, and intense competition abroad. Amid these challenges, the success of the U17 women’s team is both a morale boost and a reminder that India’s wrestling future remains bright.
What stands out isn’t just the medal count, but how these medals were won:
- Ashvini’s unbeaten defensive run across all matches.
- Rachana’s controlled final against a tough Chinese opponent.
- Moni’s fight in a one-point final.
- Kajal’s return to the final despite all opponents preparing specifically for her.
- Komal’s bounce-back after an earlier setback.
These stories reflect a new generation that combines talent with mental toughness—a key ingredient for converting junior success to senior glory. While celebrations are deserved, attention will soon turn to the next steps:
- Graduating from U17 to U20 and senior categories, where competition is stiffer.
- Building on technical strengths while adding physical conditioning to match experienced opponents.
- Learning from close losses like Moni’s one-point defeat and Kajal’s tactical final to refine strategy.
The U17 Worlds serve as an early platform; what matters next is sustained progress, guided coaching, and exposure to more international tournaments. India’s consistent medal wins at the U17 Worlds in recent years show that its youth pipeline is working. The federation’s investment in national camps, scouting, and focused coaching for promising girls from smaller towns and villages is translating into podium finishes.
Athletes like Rachana, Ashvini, Moni, Kajal, and Komal are not exceptions they are part of a rising wave. Their success also sends a message to families and communities across India: wrestling is a sport where young girls can compete, travel, and become world champions.
At the Athens U17 World Wrestling Championships, Rachana and Ashvini Vishnoi became world champions, Moni and Kajal brought back silvers, and Komal Verma secured bronze making it a proud day for Indian wrestling.
Beyond medals, these performances tell a bigger story: that with the right support and training, Indian girls can challenge, and beat, the very best in the world. For now, they return home as heroes. For Indian wrestling, their triumphs mark the latest step in an ambitious journey toward becoming a sustained global power.
