Commonwealth Wrestling C'ships: Kajal, Neelam, Amruta lead India's women's squad
Synopsis
India's women's wrestling squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Championships in Polokwane is headlined by Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi — the first two Indian women to reach finals at the same World Championships edition — alongside U-23 World silver medallist Amruta Pujari. Their selection, sealed through trials in New Delhi on 13 November, signals a generational shift in Indian women's wrestling.
Key Takeaways
Kajal Dhochak (76kg) and Neelam Sirohi (50kg) — both World Championships silver medallists from Astana — headline India's women's squad.
Amruta Pujari won silver in the 72kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas .
The squad was finalised on 13 November 2026 after selection trials in New Delhi .
The 2026 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships take place in Polokwane, South Africa from 4–6 December .
Kajal and Neelam's simultaneous World Championships finals appearance was a first for Indian women's wrestling , following Anshu Malik's pioneering final in 2021 .
The squad spans senior, U-20 , and U-17 categories across multiple weight classes.
World Championships silver medallists Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi, along with Under-23 World Championships silver medallist Amruta Pujari, headline a strong Indian women's contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships, scheduled in Polokwane, South Africa from 4–6 December. The squad was finalised on Friday, 13 November 2026, following day-long selection trials in New Delhi.
Selection Trial Highlights
Neelam Sirohi, who claimed silver in the 50kg category at the World Championships in Astana, earned her Commonwealth spot by pinning Maharashtra's Neha Chaugule in the selection final. Kajal Dhochak, also a World Championships silver medallist in Astana, dominated the 76kg selection bout against Vedika of Maharashtra with a commanding 10-0 victory. Amruta Pujari of Maharashtra similarly secured her berth with a comfortable win over Bipasha of RSPB in the 72kg category.
World Championships Performances That Earned Them Their Place
All three women arrive with fresh medal pedigree. At the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Amruta won back-to-back pinfall bouts before reaching the gold-medal match, where she lost 0-6 to Ukraine's Iryna Zablotska, settling for silver in the 72kg category.
At the senior World Championships in Astana, 18-year-old Kajal made her senior debut having already secured two U-20 world titles. She reached the 76kg final against Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva with a memorable semifinal comeback — overturning a 1-7 deficit to defeat Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 — before losing the gold-medal bout 6-8. Neelam reached the 50kg final with a composed 7-3 win over Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova in the semis, before falling by fall against Japan's four-time world champion Yui Susaki after trailing 0-5.
Notably, their simultaneous podium appearances at Astana marked the first time two Indian women competed in finals at the same World Championships edition — building on the milestone set by Anshu Malik, who became the first Indian woman to reach a senior World Championships final in 2021.
Full Squad Named for Polokwane
The senior women's team for the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships comprises: Neelam Sirohi (50kg), Nishu (53kg), Ahilya Shinde (55kg), Simran (57kg), Neha Sangwan (59kg), Pushpa Yadav (62kg), Janvi (65kg), Srishti (68kg), Amruta Pujari (72kg), and Kajal Dhochak (76kg).
The championships will also feature Under-17 and Under-20 competitions, with trials for those age groups held simultaneously on Friday. The U-17 squad includes Taniya (46kg), Rupankshi (53kg), Maisha (57kg), and Manya Rajput (61kg). The U-20 squad features Kajal (55kg), Deepika Nain (65kg), Vishakha (72kg), and Muskan Narwal (76kg).
What to Watch in Polokwane
With a squad anchored by established world-level performers and depth across weight categories, India will head to South Africa as one of the stronger contingents in the women's draw. The event in Polokwane will serve as an important competitive outing ahead of the next major international season, and all eyes will be on whether Kajal and Neelam can convert their World Championships silver momentum into gold on the Commonwealth stage.
Point of View
Not just individual brilliance. The simultaneous World Championships finals for Kajal and Neelam is a structural marker, not just a feel-good moment, suggesting that the pipeline from U-20 to senior is finally working. The Commonwealth Championships in Polokwane will be a useful, if lower-stakes, test of that depth — but the more important question is whether the federation can sustain investment and competitive exposure to convert silver-medal patterns into gold at the next Olympics cycle.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the 2026 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships?
The 2026 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships will be held in Polokwane, South Africa from 4 to 6 December 2026. The event will feature senior, Under-20, and Under-17 competitions.
Who are the key wrestlers in India's women's squad for the Commonwealth Championships?
The squad is headlined by World Championships silver medallists Kajal Dhochak (76kg) and Neelam Sirohi (50kg), along with Under-23 World Championships silver medallist Amruta Pujari (72kg). All three earned selection through trials held in New Delhi on 13 November 2026.
How did Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi perform at the World Championships in Astana?
Both won silver medals at the senior World Championships in Astana. Kajal, 18, reached the 76kg final on debut — including a remarkable semifinal comeback from 1-7 down — before losing 6-8 to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Neelam won her 50kg semifinal 7-3 before losing by fall to Japan's four-time world champion Yui Susaki.
What was significant about India's performance at the Astana World Championships?
It was the first time two Indian women reached finals at the same edition of the World Championships. This builds on the milestone set by Anshu Malik, who became the first Indian woman to reach a senior World Championships final in 2021.
What did Amruta Pujari achieve at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships?
Amruta Pujari won a silver medal in the women's 72kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. She reached the final with two pinfall victories in earlier rounds before losing 0-6 to Ukraine's Iryna Zablotska in the gold-medal bout.
