U23 Asian Wrestling C'ship: Akshay, Vicky win freestyle gold as India dominates Da Nang
Synopsis
India turned the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang into a near-clean sweep, with Akshay T Dhere and Vicky winning freestyle gold on Monday alone — and the women's contingent piling on titles across five weight categories over two days. For a sport still rebuilding its institutional credibility, this depth of youth talent is the most compelling signal yet.
Key Takeaways
Akshay T Dhere won gold in the 57kg freestyle category with a 4-2 win over Kazakhstan's Yelaman Amangeldi .
Vicky claimed gold in the 97kg division with a 7-5 victory over Uzbekistan's Sherzod Poyonov .
Indian women wrestlers won gold in the 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 68kg, and 76kg categories across two days.
Mansi Lather registered the most dominant women's final win — 14-1 over Uzbekistan's Firuza Esenbaeva in the 68kg bout.
India's overall haul includes multiple golds, silvers, and bronzes across freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines.
WFI President Sanjay Singh congratulated the squad, calling the showing proof that 'the future of Indian wrestling is in very safe hands.'
India's freestyle wrestlers Akshay T Dhere and Vicky claimed gold medals on Monday, 26 May 2025 at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam, capping a dominant multi-day haul that saw Indian grapplers sweep across weight categories in both men's and women's freestyle. The performances reinforced India's growing depth in continental wrestling.
Akshay and Vicky Lead the Freestyle Charge
Akshay T Dhere opened the gold rush in the 57kg weight class, edging past Kazakhstan's Yelaman Amangeldi with a gritty 4-2 victory to claim the title. Vicky followed suit in the 97kg division, pulling off a thrilling 7-5 win against Uzbekistan's Sherzod Poyonov to secure the top spot on the podium.
Indian Women Wrestlers Deliver Historic Medal Rush
The women's freestyle contingent produced a string of dominant displays. Muskan controlled the 53kg final against Vietnam's Thi My Linh Nguyen, registering a comfortable 6-2 win. Tapsya was even more emphatic in the 57kg category, securing her gold with a victory by fall over Kazakhstan's Altyn Shagayeva while leading 4-0.
Bhagyashree H. Fand added another gold in the 62kg division, blanking Kyrgyzstan's Tynys Dubek 4-0. Pulkit extended the tally in the 65kg category with wins of 4-0 over Kyrgyzstan's Tynys Dubek and 4-1 over Mongolia's Narkhajid Nyamsuren. Amruta Shashikant Pujari took home the silver in the 72kg division after a narrow 2-4 defeat to Mongolia's Odgerel Edene Ochir.
Day Two Highlights: Mansi, Kajal, and Sumit Shine
On Sunday, Mansi Lather headlined the second day with a comprehensive 14-1 win over Uzbekistan's Firuza Esenbaeva in the 68kg final. Kajal was equally dominant in the 76kg final, blanking Kyrgyzstan's Aizharkyn Zhanybekova 10-0. Greco-Roman grappler Sumit secured the 63kg title with a 12-2 victory over Uzbekistan's Ozodbek Khalilboev.
India also secured two silvers and three bronzes on that day. Sweety fell narrowly 5-7 to Vietnam's Ngoc L. Do, while Neha suffered a 9-5 defeat to Uzbekistan's Laylokhon Sobirova in the 59kg final, each settling for silver.
Bronze Medals Round Out India's Podium Sweep
Ahilya S. Shinde secured a bronze with a 13-2 win over Kyrgyzstan's Arruke Kadyrbek Kyzy. In Greco-Roman, Neeraj Patel blanked Kazakhstan's Rauan Bekimov 8-0 in the 55kg bronze bout. Rohit Bura added another podium finish in the 87kg category, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Artykbek Alymbek Uulu with a clinical 9-0 victory.
WFI President Hails the Squad
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh praised the contingent's showing. 'Winning two freestyle golds on the continental stage is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the tactical brilliance of Akshay and Vicky. They fought with immense heart today. I am equally thrilled for our women wrestlers who have shown incredible resilience to reach so many finals. This dominant showing proves that the future of Indian wrestling is in very safe hands, and I congratulate the entire squad for bringing such immense pride to the nation,' Singh said.
India's medal haul across both days underlines a systematic rise in wrestling depth, with young athletes delivering across freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines. The championship continues to serve as a key stepping stone for wrestlers eyeing senior Asian and World-level competition.
Point of View
And the U23 Asian stage is where that depth is now converting into hardware. What stands out is not just the number of golds but the margin of victory: 14-1, 10-0, 9-0 scorelines suggest technical and physical dominance, not just competitive luck. The more interesting question is whether WFI's administrative turbulence of recent years has cost India a generation of senior medals while the U23 cohort was maturing. If these athletes are managed well through the transition to senior competition, India's wrestling trajectory at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics looks genuinely promising.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold for India at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025?
India's Akshay T Dhere won gold in the 57kg freestyle category and Vicky won gold in the 97kg division on Monday at Da Nang, Vietnam. Women wrestlers including Muskan, Tapsya, Bhagyashree H. Fand, Pulkit, Mansi Lather, and Kajal also claimed gold medals across multiple weight categories over two days.
Where are the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 being held?
The U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 are being held in Da Nang, Vietnam . The competition spans multiple days and covers freestyle and Greco-Roman categories for men and women.
What was India's total medal tally at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships?
India won multiple gold medals across freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines over at least two days of competition, along with several silvers and bronzes. The exact final tally was still accumulating as competition continued, but the haul included golds in the 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 68kg, 76kg, 97kg, and 63kg categories.
What did WFI President Sanjay Singh say about India's performance?
WFI President Sanjay Singh called the performance 'a fantastic achievement' and praised the 'tactical brilliance' of the freestyle gold medallists. He said the showing proves 'the future of Indian wrestling is in very safe hands.'
Which Indian wrestlers won silver medals at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships?
Amruta Shashikant Pujari won silver in the 72kg division after a 2-4 defeat to Mongolia's Odgerel Edene Ochir. Sweety and Neha also claimed silver medals on the second day, losing narrowly in the 68kg and 59kg finals respectively.
