World Wrestling Championships: Sujeet Kalkal to Lead India as Stars Skip
Sujeet Kalkal spearheads the Indian squad for the World Wrestling Championships in Astana as stars Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal miss out.
The Indian wrestling contingent is heading to Astana, Kazakhstan, for the World Wrestling Championships, scheduled from October 24 to November 1. With several high-profile athletes missing from the roster, the responsibility of leading the charge falls on Asian Games champion Sujeet Kalkal, who is viewed as India's strongest bet for a podium finish.
Major Absences in the Indian Camp
The squad arrives in Astana without some of its biggest names. Olympic medalist and Asian Games champion Aman Sehrawat is sidelined as he focuses on recovering from injuries to his ankle and shoulder. Similarly, Olympian Deepak Punia, a bronze medalist at the Asian Games, will also miss the event due to a shoulder injury.
On the women's side, two-time World Championships bronze medalist and recent Asian Games silver medalist Antim Panghal is also skipping the competition, leaving a significant void in the women's freestyle category.
Sujeet Kalkal: The Medal Hope
Competing in the men's freestyle 65 kg category, 23-year-old Sujeet Kalkal enters the tournament as a formidable contender. His recent track record has been nothing short of spectacular, including a gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. During that tournament, Sujeet stunned the wrestling world by defeating Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semi-finals.
His gold medal match was a masterclass in resilience; after trailing 9-2 against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev, Sujeet staged a dramatic comeback with a series of takedowns to win 10-9. This victory adds to his already impressive resume, which includes titles from the Asian Championships and the U23 World Championships.
The Battle for World Number One
Sujeet currently holds the world number two spot in the United World Wrestling (UWW) rankings. The only man ahead of him is Iran's reigning world champion, Rahman Amouzad. While Amouzad did not compete in the Asian Games, he is expected to be one of the primary rivals Sujeet must overcome in Astana to climb the rankings.
A Leaner Squad from the Asian Games
The transition from the Asian Games to the World Championships has seen a significant reduction in the number of returning athletes. Out of the 15 Indians who competed at the Asian Games, only five are traveling to Astana: Sujeet Kalkal, Sagar Jaglan, Manisha Bhanwala, Sunil Kumar, and Nitesh Siwach.
Among them, Nitesh Siwach continues to make history after securing a silver medal in the 97kg Greco-Roman category—India's first silver in that style at the Asian Games in 64 years. Meanwhile, Sunil Kumar (87kg) remains a pioneer as the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to claim two Asian Games medals.
Road to LA 2028
The stakes in Astana extend beyond immediate medals. The points earned at these World Championships will be critical for seeding in the 2027 Ranking Series, continental championships, and the next World Championships. This makes the event a vital stepping stone for athletes beginning their cycle toward the LA 2028 Olympics.
Full Indian Squad for World Wrestling Championships 2026
Men’s Freestyle
- Rahul (57kg)
- Nikhil (61kg)
- Sujeet Kalkal (65kg)
- Vishal Kaliraman (70kg)
- Sagar Jaglan (74kg)
- Sourabh Yadav (79kg)
- Pushpender Dalal (86kg)
- Sachin (92kg)
- Vicky (97kg)
- Jaspooran Singh (125kg)
Women’s Freestyle
- Neelam (50kg)
- Nishu (53kg)
- Ahilya S Shinde (55kg)
- Neha Sharma (57kg)
- Manisha Bhanwala (59kg)
- Neha (62kg)
- Rajnita (65kg)
- Srishti (68kg)
- Tanu Sharma (72kg)
- Kajal (76kg)
Greco-Roman
- Lalit (55kg)
- Harsh (60kg)
- Sahil (63kg)
- Sachin Sahrawat (67kg)
- Karanjit Singh (72kg)
- Lovepreet Singh (77kg)
- Prince (82kg)
- Sunil Kumar (87kg)
- Nitesh Siwach (97kg)
- Joginder Rathee (130kg)