Sujeet Kalkal Dominates to Reach Asian Games Wrestling Quarterfinals
Sujeet Kalkal secured a dominant 13-3 win over Afghanistan's Sayed Omar Zazai to advance to the 65kg wrestling quarterfinals at the Asian Games.
SLUG: sujeet-kalkal-wrestling-victory-asian-games FOCUS: Sujeet Kalkal wrestling victory SEO_TITLE: Sujeet Kalkal Reaches Asian Games Wrestling Quarterfinals SEO_DESC: Sujeet Kalkal secured a dominant 13-3 win over Afghanistan's Sayed Omar Zazai to advance to the 65kg wrestling quarterfinals at the Asian Games. TAGS: India Sports News, Athletics News, Asian Games 2026
Indian wrestling star Sujeet Kalkal has stormed into the men's freestyle 65kg quarterfinals at the Asian Games after a commanding performance against Afghanistan's Sayed Omar Zazai. The victory, marked by a 13-3 technical superiority win, keeps India's medal hopes alive in the category during a high-octane 13th day of competition in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
A Comeback Performance on the Mat
Kalkal, widely regarded as a top medal contender for India in the 65kg division, faced an early challenge when he conceded the first three points to Zazai. However, the Indian wrestler showed immense composure, quickly neutralizing the deficit. A decisive four-point maneuver allowed Kalkal to seize a 5-3 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the bout.
The momentum stayed firmly with the Indian throughout the opening period. Using a combination of technical skill, including a flip and a roll, Kalkal extended his lead to 9-3 by the end of the first period. He maintained this aggressive offensive stance in the second period, eventually securing a 10-point victory margin to end the match early at 13-3.
Kalkal is scheduled to face Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi in the men's freestyle 65kg quarterfinals later today.
Archery Gold and Team Success
While the wrestling mats saw intense action, the archery arena provided India with its 11th gold medal of the games. In a historic achievement, Kumkum Mohod, Ankita Bhakat, and Kirti Sharma secured India's first-ever medal in the women's recurve team event by defeating South Korea with a 5-3 scoreline.
The success continued in the mixed recurve team event, where Kumkum Mohod and Dhiraj Bommadevara recovered from a 1-3 deficit to defeat Japan 5-3, booking their place in a gold-medal clash against China.
Mixed Fortunes for India on Day 13
It was not all smooth sailing for the Indian contingent. In wrestling, Rajat Ruhal fell to Kazakhstan's Yedige Kassimbek, and Priya was pinned by the reigning Asian Games champion Kyzy Medet of Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, Dipanshi lost her 50kg round-of-16 bout to Japan's Yui Susaki. Both Rajat and Priya remain in the hunt for medals through the repechage if their opponents reach the finals.
In other results:
- Volleyball: India secured a 3-1 victory over South Korea in the men's classification match.
- Taekwondo: Kashish Malik reached the quarterfinals in mixed individual virtual taekwondo but was eliminated by Kazakhstan's Rita Bakisheva.
- Cycling: David Beckham progressed to the men's keirin semifinal.
- Canoe Slalom: Pradhyumna Singh Rathod and Shikha Chauhan both advanced to their respective kayak cross quarterfinals.
As the games progress, India sits seventh on the overall medal table with 67 medals, consisting of 11 gold, 23 silver, and 33 bronze.