Hansika Lamba wins silver in 55kg at Budapest Ranking Series 2026
Synopsis
Trailing 2-7 in the semifinals, Hansika Lamba flipped the script with a burst of takedowns to reach the Budapest final — then pushed Ukraine's Klivchutska before settling for silver. Combined with bronzes from Vishal Kaliraman and Rajat Ruhal, India now sits on five medals at the 2026 Ranking Series, its most productive start to a senior wrestling tournament this year.
Key Takeaways
Hansika Lamba won silver in the women's 55kg category at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026 on 17 July 2026 .
She overturned a 2-7 deficit against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas in the semis, winning 10-7 .
Lamba lost the final 0-5 (VPO) to Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska .
Vishal Kaliraman (65kg) and Rajat Ruhal (125kg) each claimed bronze on Day 2.
India's total medal haul stands at 5 — 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze — after two days of competition.
Women's categories 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg were set to begin at 9:00 PM IST on Day 2.
Hansika Lamba claimed a silver medal in the women's 55kg category at the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026 in Budapest on 17 July 2026, delivering one of the tournament's most compelling performances by overcoming a five-point deficit in the semifinals before falling narrowly in the final.
Semifinal Comeback
Lamba's route to the gold-medal bout was anything but straightforward. Trailing 2-7 against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas, she mounted a remarkable turnaround through a sequence of explosive takedowns, eventually winning 10-7 to advance. The reversal underscored the mat resilience that has become a hallmark of her international outings.
Final Against Ukraine's Klivchutska
In the gold-medal contest, Lamba faced Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska, a formidable opponent who controlled the bout from the outset. Lamba went down 0-5 on points (VPO), settling for silver — a result that nonetheless extends her rapidly expanding international portfolio. She had earlier won a bronze at the 2026 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, making this her second senior-level podium finish of the year.
India's Day 2 Bronze Haul
The freestyle wrestlers added two more bronzes on the second day of competition. In the 65kg third-place play-off, Vishal Kaliraman outclassed Kazakhstan's Ossumzhan Dastanbek 8-2 with a composed tactical display. In the 125kg heavyweight division, Rajat Ruhal was awarded the bronze against USA's Mason Mark Parris after the American was forced to withdraw due to injury (VIN).
India's Medal Tally After Day 2
The three podium finishes on Day 2 pushed India's total medal count to five — 1 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze. The tally builds on opening-day momentum when Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat won gold in the 57kg division and Deepak secured bronze in the 61kg class.
What's Next for Team India
The remaining women's wrestling weight categories — 59kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 68kg — were scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM IST on Day 2. Neha leads India's charge in the 59kg category, Mansi competes in the 62kg division, and Nisha is set to feature in the 68kg class. With five medals already secured, the squad will look to add further silverware before the tournament concludes.
Point of View
And it signals a maturing competitive temperament. Yet the 0-5 final scoreline against Klivchutska also reveals the technical gap India's women wrestlers must close at the senior elite level. With five medals in two days and four more women's categories still to compete, this Budapest campaign is shaping up as India's most productive senior wrestling outing of 2026 — a useful confidence marker ahead of the World Championships cycle.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Hansika Lamba win at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026?
Hansika Lamba won a silver medal in the women's 55kg category at the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026 in Budapest on 17 July 2026. She lost the final 0-5 to Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska.
How did Hansika Lamba reach the final in Budapest?
Lamba staged a dramatic comeback in the semifinals, overturning a 2-7 deficit against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas with a series of explosive takedowns to win 10-7. The reversal was widely seen as the highlight of her tournament.
How many medals has India won at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026?
India has won five medals after two days — 1 gold (Aman Sehrawat, 57kg), 1 silver (Hansika Lamba, 55kg), and 3 bronze (Deepak, 61kg; Vishal Kaliraman, 65kg; Rajat Ruhal, 125kg). Four more women's categories are yet to compete.
Who else won medals for India on Day 2 at Budapest?
Vishal Kaliraman won bronze in the 65kg class by defeating Kazakhstan's Ossumzhan Dastanbek 8-2. Rajat Ruhal claimed bronze in the 125kg division after USA's Mason Mark Parris was forced to forfeit due to injury.
Which Indian wrestlers compete next at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026?
Neha (59kg), Mansi (62kg), and Nisha (68kg) are among the Indian wrestlers scheduled to compete in the remaining women's freestyle categories, which were set to begin at 9:00 PM IST on Day 2.
