Asian Wrestling Championships: India end campaign with 17 medals, finish second behind Iran
India close the Asian Wrestling Championships 2026 with 17 medals, including two gold, finishing second behind Iran in Bishkek.
India close the Asian Wrestling Championships 2026 with 17 medals, including two gold, finishing second behind Iran in Bishkek.
Indian women wrestlers continued their good work as Manisha bagged the country's first gold while Antim Panghal claimed a bronze on her return to competitions in the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship here on Friday.
The standout performer of the day was Reetika, who won India’s first silver medal in the championship. She began her campaign with a dominant 10-0 victory over South Korea’s Seoyeon Jeong in the qualification round.
A total of 30 Indian wrestlers - 10 each in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle - competed at the six-day meet.
With this, India's Greco-Roman wrestlers have done better than the last edition where they had won only a couple of bronze medals through Rajender Kumar (55kg) and Harpreet Singh (82kg).
Bajrang is eager to keep the juggernaut rolling at the World Wrestling Championship later this year.
Vinesh Phogat feels that it is their speed and agility that sets the Japanese apart from the rest.
Bajrang staged a superb comeback after conceding the lead to dominate the second and final round.
Both Bajrang (men's 65kg) and Sarita (women's 58kg) have ensured at least a silver medal each for the country.
Harpreet Singh was the lone bright spot for India on the opening day of the Asian Wrestling Championship.
