Asian Games 2026: Sujeet Kalkal wins first wrestling gold, beats Olympic champion
Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal secured a gold medal in the 65 kg category at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya. Despite falling behind early in the final match, he staged a dramatic comeback to defeat his opponent from Tajikistan.
Why it matters
This victory marks a significant milestone for Indian wrestling on the international stage, highlighting the athlete's dominance in his weight class.
Sujeet Kalkal underlined his growing supremacy in the men's 65 kg wrestling category, clinching the Asian Games gold in Nagoya on Friday (October 2, 2026), while defeating an Olympic champion en route to the title, to crown a stunning year of domination.
He had already beaten stronger Iranian and Japanese rivals on his way to the final, and there was no doubt that the 23-year-old Sujeet would win his first Asian Games gold. But Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev made it challenging for the Indian. Sujeet fell behind 2-9, before scoring eight points in a row in a dramatic turnaround for a sensational victory.
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