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 in the women’s 57kg category, while Priya Malik (76kg) and Reena (55kg) powered their way into the finals with clinical performances. For India, the breakthrough moment of the day belonged to Tapsya, who delivered a composed and controlled performance in the women’s 57kg final. Facing Felicitas Domajeva of Norway, the reigning European U20 champion, Tapsya looked assured from the outset.
A perfectly executed takedown combined with an arm-bar move put Domajeva under immense pressure in the opening minutes. Though the Norwegian resisted the pin attempt, the Indian had already built a commanding 5–0 lead, including a passivity point conceded by her opponent. Domajeva attempted a late comeback, scoring a takedown in the dying seconds, but Tapsya managed the bout smartly to close out a 5–2 victory. With this, she not only won India’s first gold medal of the championships but also etched her name among the most promising names in the junior circuit.
The victory carried extra weight, as Domajeva was chasing Norway’s first world U20 title in women’s wrestling in 37 years.
Priya Malik storms into her third U20 World final
If Tapsya’s gold was a headline, the story of Priya Malik was equally significant. Competing in the women’s 76kg category, Priya displayed her trademark dominance en route to her third consecutive U20 World Championship final. Having previously won silver in 2022 and gold in 2023, she is now on the brink of another title. Priya opened her campaign with a quick-fire 10–0 technical superiority win against Veronika Nyikos of Hungary, finishing the bout in barely a couple of minutes. She followed that up with a controlled 4–0 quarterfinal victory over Diana Titova, displaying her patience and defensive solidity.
In the semifinal, Priya was back to her aggressive best, overwhelming Serbia’s Evelin Ujhelji with a series of leg laces to wrap up another 10–0 win inside three minutes. Such dominance underlines not just her physical power but her maturity at this level. Priya will face Nadiia Sokolovska of Ukraine, the European U20 champion, in the final a clash that promises to be one of the marquee bouts of the tournament.
Reena books her place in the 55kg final
India’s second finalist of the day was Reena, who has been steadily building her reputation as one of the most promising wrestlers in the women’s 55kg division. Already the reigning Asian U20 and U23 champion, Reena showed once again that she belongs on the world stage. Her journey began with a high-paced 11–6 win over Mongolia’s Khaliun Byambasuren in the round of 16. Despite conceding a big four-pointer, Reena’s sharp takedowns and relentless drive saw her through. In the quarterfinals, she produced a composed 8–2 win over Gerda Terek of Hungary, the European U20 champion, before reserving her most dominant performance for the semifinal.
Facing Romania’s Alexandra Voiculescu, Reena needed less than four minutes to post an 11–1 technical superiority win and book her place in the gold medal match. She will face Everest Leydecker of the USA, who herself has looked dominant, including two 10–0 wins.
Not all Indian wrestlers had a smooth ride on the day. Anjli (62kg) suffered a tough loss against Neevis Rodriguez of Mexico, who managed a fall, while Mansi Bhadana (62kg) also exited in the early rounds. These results reflect the depth of competition at the junior level, where even the most talented wrestlers can be undone by a single mistake or moment of hesitation. India’s Srishti (68kg) did make it to the final, but her silver medal run ended in disappointment as she was outclassed 7–0 by Japan’s Ray Hoshino, a returning U20 champion.
Overall, it was a day that underlined the growing strength of Indian women’s wrestling. With three finalists in different weight categories and one already crowned champion, India has shown depth and consistency. For comparison, in previous editions, the focus often rested on one or two names; now, multiple wrestlers are competing at the very top level. The achievements of wrestlers like Priya, Reena, Tapsya, and Srishti also speak to the progress made in training infrastructure and exposure at international tournaments. Regular competition against the best from Asia and Europe has clearly sharpened their skills.
The finals for Priya Malik (76kg) and Reena (55kg) will be closely watched. Both wrestlers face tough opponents Sokolovska of Ukraine and Leydecker of the USA who have been dominant in their own right. Victories here would not only add to India’s medal tally but also further cement the country’s reputation as a rising force in women’s wrestling.
For Tapsya, her gold marks the beginning of what could be a bright international career. For Priya, it’s the chance to complete a remarkable three-year journey at the U20 Worlds. And for Reena, it is an opportunity to prove her continental dominance can translate into global success.
Day two of the U20 World Wrestling Championships turned out to be one of the most fruitful for India in recent years. A gold medal already in hand, two finalists waiting in the wings, and other wrestlers gaining valuable experience the Indian camp has plenty to celebrate. The journey is far from over, but the signs are encouraging. If Priya and Reena can turn their finals into gold, this could go down as one of India’s most successful campaigns at the junior world level.
