Asian Games Wrestling Heroes Set Sights on LA 2028 Glory
Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal, and Nitesh Kumar receive a warm welcome in Delhi after their historic Asian Games wrestling success.
India's wrestling stars returned to New Delhi to a hero's welcome following a historic performance at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Gold medalists Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal, alongside silver medalist Nitesh Kumar, were greeted with immense warmth and enthusiasm, with all three athletes setting their sights on a definitive goal: Olympic glory at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
A Historic Campaign for Indian Wrestling
The 2026 Asian Games marked a significant milestone for Indian wrestling, representing the country's most successful campaign in over six decades. The squad secured a total of six medals, including two golds, two silvers, and two bronzes, asserting dominance across both freestyle and Greco-Roman categories.
The gold medal haul was led by:
- Aman Sehrawat: Men's freestyle 57kg champion.
- Sujeet Kalkal: Men's freestyle 65kg champion.
Other notable performances included silver medals from Antim Panghal and Nitesh Siwach, while Deepak Punia and Sunil Kumar secured bronze medals to round out the successful outing.
Sujeet Kalkal: The Master of the Comeback
Sujeet Kalkal's journey to the top of the podium was nothing short of miraculous. In the men's freestyle 65kg final against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, Sujeet found himself trailing 2-9 with only one minute and 40 seconds remaining. In a display of incredible resilience, he executed a series of rapid takedowns to turn the tide, ultimately clinching the gold with just eleven seconds left on the clock.
"It is a very great feeling, and I feel immense pride that I won a gold medal for the country," Sujeet remarked. "We will practice according to what the country expects, and God willing, we will keep winning gold medals."
Having already secured gold at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, Sujeet is now viewed as a formidable contender for the LA 2028 Olympics. "Full preparation and training for LA are already underway," he added.
Aman Sehrawat: Dreaming of the Olympic Anthem
Aman Sehrawat, who famously defeated the reigning world champion Han Chong Song in the 57kg final, has already become India's youngest Olympic medalist. For Aman, the ultimate dream is to hear the Indian national anthem played at the Olympic podium.
"I am feeling very happy, and now we will do better in the future. The whole nation is giving us love. Now our national anthem will be played at the LA Olympics," Aman said, dedicating his success to the nation.
Aman credited much of his success to his coach, Satpal Singh. The coach, expressing immense pride, stated, "Whatever he is today, I owe entirely to Guruji... Now, we need an Olympic gold in 2028. That’s the goal."
Nitesh Kumar: Breaking Greco-Roman Barriers
Nitesh Kumar made history by becoming only the second Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to reach an Asian Games final, a feat not achieved since Maruti Mane in 1962. Competing in the men's 97kg category, his silver medal proved that India can compete at the highest levels of Greco-Roman wrestling.
"I feel great," Nitesh expressed, noting that his success, alongside Sunil Kumar's bronze, proves India's growing prowess in the discipline. Like his freestyle counterparts, Nitesh is hungry for Olympic success in Los Angeles.