India Finish Third as USA and Iran Dominate Zagreb Ranking Series Opener

The first freestyle Zagreb Ranking Series event of the 2026 season in Zagreb, Croatia, delivered an early snapshot of global wrestling power dynamics and from an Indian perspective, there is plenty to build on.

India finished third in the overall medal standings with five medals, behind the United States (13) and Iran (10), but ahead of traditional European strongholds like Georgia and France. In a field stacked with Olympic medalists, world champions and emerging contenders, the Indian contingent demonstrated depth, resilience and medal consistency across weight categories.

Medal Table Overview

The final medal standings from Zagreb read as follows:

🥇 USA – 13 medals

🥈 Iran – 10 medals

🥉 India – 5 medals

4️⃣ Georgia – 4 medals

5️⃣ France – 2 medals

Rankings were determined by total medal count, with ties separated by highest-place finishes.

For India, finishing third in a Ranking Series event that featured elite American and Iranian line-ups signals a competitive start to the Olympic cycle buildup.

India’s Medal Haul: Quality Over Quantity

India’s five medals included one gold, one silver and three bronze a balanced spread across divisions.

The standout performer was Sujeet Kalkal, who clinched gold in the 65 kg category. Sujeet was flawless through the tournament, not conceding a single point en route to the title. His technical superiority wins and clinical 3–0 final against Iran’s Peyman Nemati underlined his evolution from U23 World Champion to consistent senior-level contender.

In the 61 kg category, Aman Sehrawat secured silver after a strong round-robin campaign. Aman recorded dominant wins over Giorgi Goniashvili (Georgia) and Reza Momeni (Iran), before falling to American Austin DeSanto. His second-place finish adds important ranking points and keeps him firmly in medal contention territory globally. At 70 kg, Abhimanyou Mandwal delivered a bronze-medal performance, rebounding strongly after a semifinal defeat. His ability to recover and win the bronze medal match reflects growing tactical maturity.

India’s other medals came through Vicky Hooda (97 kg bronze) and Dinesh Goliya (125 kg bronze), both showcasing grit in heavy-hitting brackets dominated by American and Iranian wrestlers.

Collectively, the results reflect increasing competitiveness across lightweight and middleweight categories traditionally India’s strongest zones in freestyle.

USA and Iran: Depth on Display

While India’s third-place finish is commendable, the event reaffirmed the structural dominance of the United States and Iran.

The USA topped the table with 13 medals, led by champions like Austin DeSanto (61 kg), David Carr (74 kg), and Parker Keckeisen (86 kg). Their ability to place multiple athletes across weight classes highlights depth that few nations can match. Iran, meanwhile, secured 10 medals with golds at 70 kg (Sina Khalili) and 92 kg (Mohammad Mobin Azimi). As always, their technical sharpness and composure in close bouts made the difference.

For India, the takeaway is clear: while the top tier remains competitive, closing the gap requires sustained consistency across all five Olympic weight categories.

Signs of Progress for India

What makes this third-place finish particularly significant is the broader context.

1. Ranking Series Importance – These events directly impact seeding at World Championships and major continental events. A strong start improves bracket positioning later in the season.
2. Multiple Weight-Class Relevance – India medalled across 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 97 kg and 125 kg spanning light to heavy divisions. This diversity suggests improved development pathways.
3. Youth + Experience Blend – Sujeet and Aman represent the next wave, while wrestlers like Vicky Hooda and Dinesh Goliya are consolidating their positions in senior circuits.

However, the absence of medals in some Olympic weights also highlights areas requiring technical and strategic refinement especially against American wrestlers who excel in match management and scramble situations.

Global Competitive Landscape

Georgia (4 medals) and Japan (2 medals) continue to produce high-level competitors, while Bahrain and Mexico also registered podium finishes. The medal distribution across eight nations indicates widening global competitiveness in freestyle wrestling. For India, maintaining third place in such a diverse field is encouraging but sustaining it across the season will be the real challenge.

The Zagreb Ranking Series is only the opening chapter of a long competitive year. With World Championships and Olympic qualification pathways shaping up, early momentum matters.

India’s five-medal finish places the team in a healthy competitive position, but bridging the gap with USA and Iran will require:

• Sharper defensive wrestling in semifinal scenarios
• Better control in high-pressure matches
• Tactical adaptability in round-robin formats

If Zagreb is an indicator, India’s wrestling program is trending upward particularly in lighter weight divisions. Finishing third behind two of the sport’s traditional giants is not just a statistical achievement; it is a marker of intent.

The season has begun.