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) fell short in his bronze-medal playoff.
India’s brightest story of the day was Sumit Malik, who fought through adversity and showcased tremendous resilience.
Qualification vs Rin Sakamoto (JPN): Malik produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the championships. Up against Japan’s Rin Sakamoto who will represent Japan in the senior World Championships Sumit trailed 1–10 deep into the match. But the Indian kept pressing, landing a four-pointer and a series of takedowns to reduce the margin. In the dying seconds, India challenged a singlet foul. The review overturned the bout, handing Malik a 10–10 win on criteria. The Japanese camp was left frustrated, but Malik’s relentless pursuit earned him a famous victory.
Quarterfinal vs Vasif Baghirov (AZE): Facing the reigning U17 world champion, Malik controlled the tempo with quick attacks and powerful finishes. He dominated 9–2, scoring a decisive four-pointer to seal the win and a place in the semifinal.
Semifinal vs Ion Bulgaru (MDA): Malik carried his momentum into the last four. Against Ion Bulgaru of Moldova, he displayed both aggression and composure. Malik mixed single-leg attacks with sharp counters, pulling away to an 11–3 win.
The victory sends him into the final, where he will meet Magomed Ozdamirov (UWW), a European U20 bronze medallist known for his upper-body throws.
Amit’s Brave Effort in 79kg
At 79kg freestyle, India’s Amit had an encouraging run but fell agonizingly short of a final berth.
•In the quarterfinal, Amit looked assured, keeping composure to book his place in the semis.
•In the semifinal vs William Henckel (USA), however, Amit was pushed to the brink. The Pan-American U20 champion dictated the closing minutes, while Amit’s conditioning faltered. Leading for parts of the bout, Amit could not match Henckel’s late surge and conceded a narrow 4–5 defeat.
Though disappointed, Amit remains alive in the competition and will wrestle for bronze on the final day.
Vishal Falls Short in 97kg Bronze Playoff
India’s Vishal (97kg freestyle) entered the day aiming for a podium finish. But against Kazakhstan’s Samir Dursunov, he was caught in a fall and lost his bronze medal bout. Despite the setback, his campaign displayed flashes of potential at a highly competitive weight.
Other Indian Results
•Ashwani (65kg) exited early, losing 4–4 on criteria to Viktor Borohan (UKR), the European U20 silver medallist.
•Sachin (92kg) struggled against Azerbaijan’s Anar Jafarli in the quarterfinals, going down 0–10.
These defeats highlighted the gulf in technical sharpness and consistency at times, but India’s better performances came in the lighter and middle categories.
For India, the standout was undoubtedly Sumit Malik, who not only scripted a sensational comeback win against Japan’s Sakamoto but also reached the 57kg freestyle final with dominant wrestling. His performances ensure India will contend for at least one medal at the U20 Worlds. Meanwhile, Amit (79kg) fought bravely but was edged out in the semifinal; he will have a chance to secure bronze. Vishal (97kg) missed out on a podium finish, while others exited in the earlier rounds.
Overall, the day underscored India’s potential at the U20 level with Malik’s run showing resilience and tactical intelligence, and Amit’s close bout against Henckel underlining the need for stronger conditioning in crunch moments.
As the championships move into the medal rounds, India will hope Malik can finish with gold and Amit can add bronze to boost the team’s tally.
