Nitesh Siwach wins Asian Games 2026 Greco-Roman silver, ends India's 64-year wait
Synopsis
Nitesh Siwach just rewrote Indian wrestling history — not by winning gold, but by going where almost no Indian had gone before. His Asian Games 2026 silver in the 97 kg Greco-Roman category ends a 64-year wait for an Indian finalist in the discipline, and dedicating it to his father made the moment unforgettable.
Key Takeaways
Nitesh Siwach won silver in the men's 97 kg Greco-Roman event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 1 October 2026 .
He lost the final 0-4 to Japan's Yuri Nakazato at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre .
Siwach is only the second Indian to reach an Asian Games Greco-Roman final — the first since Maruti Mane at the 1962 Asian Games .
He defeated Agamammedov (7-1) and Gankhuyag (9-0) on his dominant route to the final.
The silver is the first-ever Asian Games medal for an Indian in the 97 kg Greco-Roman category.
Siwach credited the Inspire Institute of Sport for comprehensive support in his build-up.
Indian wrestler Nitesh Siwach claimed a silver medal in the men's 97 kg Greco-Roman event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on Thursday, 1 October, becoming only the second Indian in history to reach a Greco-Roman final at the continental showpiece. The achievement ended India's 64-year wait for a Greco-Roman wrestling finalist at the Asian Games, a landmark moment for the discipline in the country.
A Historic Final in Nagoya
Siwach faced Japan's Yuri Nakazato in the gold-medal bout at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre, ultimately losing 0-4 after being penalised for passivity in the first period, with Nakazato extending his advantage in the second period to seal gold. Despite the result, Siwach's run to the final rewrote Indian wrestling history.
'Honestly, I still can't believe it; I have won a silver medal at the Asian Games. My father always told me there was no looking back once I started this journey, that I had to bring home a medal, and today, I did it for him,' Siwach said after the bout.
Dominant Road to the Final
Siwach was commanding in the knockout stages, defeating Turkmenistan's Amanberdi Agamammedov 7-1 in the quarterfinals before overpowering Mongolia's Ganbaataryn Gankhuyag by a dominant 9-0 scoreline in the semifinal. His performances showcased a wrestler operating at the peak of his abilities, arriving in Japan fresh off a 2026 Asian Championships silver medal.
Only the Second Indian After Maruti Mane
The last Indian to reach an Asian Games Greco-Roman final was Maruti Mane at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where he too claimed silver. Siwach, therefore, mirrors that achievement exactly — silver in the same discipline, separated by six decades. Notably, no Indian from the 97 kg weight category had ever won an Asian Games medal before this run.
'No one from my weight category had ever won a medal here before, so there was a lot of pressure, but I trusted my training and gave everything I had,' Siwach said.
Role of Inspire Institute of Sport
Siwach credited the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for his preparation, citing comprehensive support that covered travel logistics, nutrition planning, and physiotherapy. 'I am so thankful to Inspire Institute of Sport. Whatever I needed — travel, nutrition, physiotherapy — they were always there for me,' he said. The IIS, based in Vijayanagara, Karnataka, has increasingly become a key production centre for India's combat sports athletes.
What This Means for Indian Greco-Roman Wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling has historically been India's weakest discipline on the mat, with the country's wrestling medals at major events largely coming from freestyle events. Siwach's silver signals a structural shift in depth and ambition. 'Maine apne desh ka Tiranga lehra diya,' he added after the medal ceremony. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, his performance will sharpen focus on Greco-Roman as a viable medal avenue for India.
Point of View
Selectors and the Wrestling Federation of India must now ask whether Siwach is a one-off talent or the vanguard of a genuine Greco-Roman push. The Inspire Institute of Sport's role here is telling: institutional backing produced results where state support had not. That model deserves replication, not just applause.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nitesh Siwach win at the Asian Games 2026?
Nitesh Siwach won a silver medal in the men's 97 kg Greco-Roman wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 1 October. He lost the final 0-4 to Japan's Yuri Nakazato.
Why is Siwach's silver medal historically significant?
Siwach became only the second Indian ever to reach a Greco-Roman final at the Asian Games, ending a 64-year wait since Maruti Mane claimed silver at the 1962 Asian Games. It is also the first Asian Games medal for India in the 97 kg Greco-Roman category.
How did Nitesh Siwach perform on his way to the final?
Siwach was dominant in the knockout rounds, beating Turkmenistan's Amanberdi Agamammedov 7-1 in the quarterfinals and Mongolia's Ganbaataryn Gankhuyag 9-0 in the semifinal before facing Japan's Nakazato in the gold-medal bout.
Who was the last Indian to reach an Asian Games Greco-Roman final before Siwach?
Maruti Mane was the last Indian to reach an Asian Games Greco-Roman final, doing so at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where he also won silver. Siwach's run in Nagoya in 2026 is the first such achievement by an Indian in 64 years.
What support did Siwach credit for his Asian Games success?
Siwach specifically credited the Inspire Institute of Sport for providing end-to-end support including travel, nutrition, and physiotherapy throughout his preparation for the Asian Games 2026.
