U23 Asian Wrestling C'ships: India claim 5 Greco-Roman medals on Day 1
Synopsis
India's Greco-Roman wrestlers punched above expectations on Day 1 in Da Nang, matching their best-ever senior continental haul with five medals. Two silvers and three bronzes signal a quiet but real shift in India's wrestling depth — a category long overshadowed by freestyle dominance.
Key Takeaways
India won five Greco-Roman medals on Day 1 of the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam .
Suraj Singh (60kg) and Sagar Singh (67kg) claimed silver medals , losing their respective finals to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan opponents.
Kumar Sachin (77kg), Rohit (97kg), and Hardeep (130kg) each won bronze medals .
WFI President Sanjay Singh called it an 'encouraging performance' reflecting 'steady progress' in Indian Greco-Roman wrestling.
India had won only three medals in the Greco-Roman category at the previous edition of the same championship.
On Sunday, Neeraj (55kg), Sumit (63kg), and Rohit Bura (87kg) will compete for further podium finishes.
India made a commanding start to their U23 Asian Wrestling Championships campaign, collecting five medals in the Greco-Roman category on the opening day at the Tien Son Sport Center in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Saturday, 24 May 2025. Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh led the medal haul with silvers, while Kumar Sachin, Rohit, and Hardeep each added bronze.
Silver Medal Performances
Suraj Singh put together a solid run through the 60kg bracket before falling 0-4 to Kazakhstan's Aibek Aitbekov in the gold medal bout, settling for silver. In the 67kg final, Sagar Singh was outclassed by Uzbekistan's Aytjan Khalmakhanov via technical superiority — a 0-9 defeat — and also took home silver.
Bronze Medal Finishes
Kumar Sachin secured bronze in the 77kg category despite a 3-10 loss to Kazakhstan's Alikhan Dursunov. Rohit narrowly missed gold in the 97kg division, going down 3-5 to Uzbekistan's Bekhruz Barnoev in a closely contested bout. Hardeep rounded off the bronze tally in the 130kg category, losing 0-4 to Kazakhstan's Jokhar Uzarov.
Early Exits
Vinit (72kg) and Amit Gope (82kg) were both eliminated by technical superiority. Vinit fell 6-9 to Uzbekistan's Shakhzod Kuchkorov, while Amit suffered a 0-10 defeat against Tajikistan's Muhammad Sultanzoda.
What the WFI Said
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh hailed the effort: 'It is an encouraging performance by our Greco-Roman wrestlers to finish the opening day with five medals. The wrestlers showed great determination and discipline on the mat, and this performance reflects the steady progress Indian Greco-Roman wrestling has been making at the continental level. I congratulate all the medal winners and wish the remaining wrestlers the very best for the upcoming bouts.'
Context and What's Next
India had won three medals in the Greco-Roman category at the previous edition of the U23 and U17 Asian Wrestling Championships, also held in Vietnam — including a gold by Sumit (63kg) and bronzes by Ankit Gulia (72kg) and Nitesh (97kg). Notably, India had also secured five Greco-Roman medals at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan last month, reportedly their best performance in the category at the senior continental event in five years.
On Sunday, Neeraj opens India's Greco-Roman campaign in the 55kg qualification round, with Sumit (63kg) and Rohit Bura (87kg) also set to compete for podium finishes.
Point of View
But the pattern underneath matters more: India's Greco-Roman wrestlers are consistently reaching finals and podiums at the continental level — a category where India was largely invisible a decade ago. Both silvers came in lopsided finals, suggesting the gap to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the top remains significant, but the depth of the Indian squad is clearly widening. If Sunday's bouts deliver more medals, it will reinforce that this is a structural improvement, not a one-day blip.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals did India win on Day 1 of the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025?
India won five medals in the Greco-Roman category on the opening day of the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam. The haul comprised two silvers — by Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh — and three bronzes by Kumar Sachin, Rohit, and Hardeep.
Who won silver medals for India at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships?
Suraj Singh won silver in the 60kg category and Sagar Singh won silver in the 67kg category. Both lost their respective gold medal bouts — Suraj to Kazakhstan's Aibek Aitbekov (0-4) and Sagar to Uzbekistan's Aytjan Khalmakhanov (0-9 by technical superiority).
Which Indian wrestlers won bronze medals on Day 1?
Kumar Sachin (77kg), Rohit (97kg), and Hardeep (130kg) each claimed bronze medals. All three lost their final-round bouts but secured podium finishes through the repechage route.
How does India's Day 1 performance compare to previous editions?
India won three medals in the Greco-Roman category at the previous edition of the U23 and U17 Asian Wrestling Championships, also held in Vietnam. The five-medal haul on Day 1 of the 2025 edition marks an improvement in both volume and consistency.
Who will represent India in Greco-Roman wrestling on Day 2?
Neeraj will compete in the 55kg qualification bout on Sunday, with Sumit (63kg) and Rohit Bura (87kg) also set to take the mat. All three will be aiming for podium finishes to extend India's medal tally.
