History Made: Manisha Bhanwala Honoured After Epic World Wrestling Gold
Wrestler Manisha Bhanwala becomes the first Indian woman to win gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. Read about her epic comeback.
In a moment of immense national pride, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam felicitated wrestler Manisha Bhanwala in Chandigarh on Tuesday. The celebration follows Manisha's historic achievement at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan, where she etched her name in the record books as the first Indian woman ever to secure a gold medal at the Senior World Championships.
The Great Escape: A Comeback for the Ages
Manisha's victory in the 59kg freestyle category was nothing short of a miracle. Facing off against USA's Abigail Elizabeth Nette in the final, Manisha found herself in a precarious position, trailing 0-6. While many would have conceded, the wrestler from Siwaha village in Jind district refused to back down.
In a spirited and relentless display of skill and determination, Manisha fought her way back from the deficit, eventually overturning the score to secure a thrilling 8-6 victory. This comeback not only won her the title but shattered a glass ceiling for Indian women's wrestling.
"Aim Even Higher": Words of Encouragement
Speaking after the felicitation, a beaming Manisha expressed her gratitude toward the Haryana government for their unwavering support. She shared that the Chief Minister's words have given her a new target to chase.
"I feel very proud, and I consider myself truly fortunate to have achieved this. It feels wonderful. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated me and remarked that I have performed my best so far, but encouraged me to aim even higher," Manisha stated.
The Chief Minister reportedly told the champion that she possesses the potential to be both a world and an Olympic champion, urging her to stay focused on bringing home an Olympic medal for India.
A Landmark Campaign for India
Before Manisha's gold, India's best effort in the women's category was a silver medal won by Anshu Malik in 2021. Manisha's triumph served as the crown jewel of a highly successful campaign for the Indian women's contingent, which finished with a total of four medals:
- Gold: Manisha Bhanwala (59kg)
- Silver: Kajal Dhochak
- Silver: Neelam Sirohi
- Bronze: Tanu Sharma (72kg)
Men's Competition Results
While the women soared, the men's freestyle campaign faced a tougher road. In the 97kg category, Vicky Hooda was eliminated in the repechage after a 0-10 loss to Iran's Hassan Yazdani via technical superiority. Additionally, India's representatives in the 61kg, 70kg, 86kg, and 125kg categories were knocked out during the preliminary rounds.