Kajal Dhochak, Neelam Sirohi make history: Two Indian women in U20 World Wrestling finals
Synopsis
For the first time ever, two Indian women are competing for gold at the same World Wrestling Championships. Kajal Dhochak's jaw-dropping 1-7 comeback and Neelam Sirohi's composed run through the draw in Astana have rewritten what Indian women's wrestling looks like on the world stage — and both still have a title to win.
Key Takeaways
Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi are the first two Indian women to reach finals at the same World Wrestling Championships edition, in Astana on 27 October 2026 .
Kajal faces Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva in the 76kg final; Neelam takes on Japan's Yui Susaki in the 50kg final.
Kajal , 18, recovered from 1-7 down to win her semifinal 10-7 , marking a stunning senior debut after two U20 world titles.
The milestone builds on Anshu Malik's 2021 breakthrough, when she became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final and won silver.
Rajnita is still in contention for bronze in the 65kg repechage.
Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi scripted a landmark chapter in Indian wrestling on Tuesday in Astana, becoming the first two Indian women to simultaneously reach the finals of a World Wrestling Championships at the same edition. The feat, achieved at the U20 World Wrestling Championships, gives India a double shot at gold in women's wrestling for the first time in the country's history at this event.
The Finals Line-Up
Kajal Dhochak will compete for the 76kg gold against Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, while Neelam Sirohi battles Japan's Yui Susaki in the 50kg final. Their simultaneous presence in the medal bouts is unprecedented for Indian women's wrestling at the senior world stage.
How They Got There
For 18-year-old Kajal, a two-time U20 world champion, the run to the final on her senior World Championships debut was nothing short of remarkable. Trailing 1-7 at one stage in the semifinal, she staged a stunning comeback to defeat Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7. Her earlier wins came against Lithuania's Kamile Griskiene Gaucaite and Mongolia's Davaanasan Enkh Amar.
Neelam, 26, was composed throughout her campaign. She secured her final berth with a 7-3 semifinal victory over Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova, having earlier beaten Belarus' Natallia Varakina 6-0 and advanced through the quarterfinals after Russia's Elizaveta Smirnova withdrew due to injury.
Building on Anshu Malik's 2021 Breakthrough
This milestone builds directly on the trail blazed by Anshu Malik in 2021, when she became the first Indian woman ever to reach a World Wrestling Championships final, going on to claim silver. Kajal and Neelam's achievement now doubles that benchmark, signalling a generational shift in Indian women's wrestling.
Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), called it 'a proud moment for Indian wrestling.' He said: 'Kajal's comeback showed tremendous belief and courage, while Neelam's performance reflected her preparation and composure. Their success is a credit to the wrestlers, their coaches and everyone supporting them. We wish both athletes the very best as they compete for gold.'
Other Indian Campaigns
Beyond the historic finals berths, Rajnita remains in contention for a bronze medal in the 65kg category and will face Japan's Nana Ikehata in the repechage. Her campaign included a notable 8-6 win over 2024 world silver medallist Kateryna Zelenykh before a loss to Moldova's Irina Ringaci. Neha Sharma exited the 57kg competition in the round of 16, and India's Greco-Roman campaign concluded without a medal.
What Comes Next
With two finalists on the mat, India now has a genuine chance to claim its first women's wrestling world title — or potentially two. The outcome of Rajnita's repechage bout could further add to the medal tally. A strong finish in Astana would mark the most successful World Championships campaign ever for Indian women wrestlers.
Point of View
Exemplified by Kajal's seamless transition, suggests the federation's age-group investment is finally bearing senior-level fruit. Yet the real test is whether these finals appearances translate into titles, and whether the support systems — funding, coaching continuity, competitive exposure — can sustain this momentum beyond a single historic day. Anshu Malik's 2021 silver was celebrated and then somewhat stalled; the risk is that Kajal and Neelam's breakthrough becomes another celebrated one-off rather than the floor of a new standard.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi?
Kajal Dhochak is an 18-year-old Indian wrestler and two-time U20 world champion who reached the senior World Championships final in the 76kg category on her debut at the event. Neelam Sirohi, 26, is an Indian wrestler who secured the 50kg final berth with a composed campaign at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Astana.
What is historic about their World Championships final appearance?
Kajal and Neelam are the first two Indian women to reach the finals of the same World Wrestling Championships edition simultaneously. Before this, Anshu Malik's 2021 silver was the only instance of an Indian woman reaching a World Championships final.
Who do the Indian wrestlers face in the finals?
Kajal Dhochak faces Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva in the 76kg final, while Neelam Sirohi takes on Japan's Yui Susaki in the 50kg final at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana.
How did Kajal Dhochak reach the final?
Kajal trailed 1-7 in her semifinal against Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy before staging a remarkable comeback to win 10-7. Her earlier victories came against Lithuania's Kamile Griskiene Gaucaite and Mongolia's Davaanasan Enkh Amar.
What is India's broader result at this World Championships?
Beyond the two finals, Rajnita is still in contention for a bronze medal in the 65kg category through the repechage. Neha Sharma exited the 57kg competition in the round of 16, and India's Greco-Roman campaign ended without a medal.
