Kajal wins gold in 76kg; India's wrestling tally hits 12 medals at Budapest 2026
Synopsis
Teenage wrestling star Kajal clinched gold in the 76kg final on criteria after a 3-3 deadlock with the USA's Dymond Precious Guilford — capping a day that added two silvers and a bronze to push India's Budapest 2026 tally to 12 medals. With Greco-Roman bouts still to come, the final count could climb higher.
Key Takeaways
Kajal won gold in the women's 76kg category at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026 on 19 July 2026 , defeating USA's Dymond Precious Guilford on criteria after a 3-3 tie.
Antim Panghal claimed silver in the 53kg final after conceding due to injury (VIN) against Sweden's Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren .
Neha Sharma took silver in the 57kg final, losing 0-4 to China's Kexin Hong .
Nishu secured bronze in the 53kg category, winning on criteria ( VPO1 ) after a 2-2 draw against Romania's Andrea Beatrice Ana .
India's total tally stands at 12 medals — 3 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze through Day 4.
The squad next targets Greco-Roman weight categories to close out the tournament.
Kajal, India's teenage wrestling sensation, clinched the gold medal in the women's 76kg category at the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026 in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, 19 July 2026, taking India's overall medal haul to 12 — comprising 3 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze. The result underlines the country's growing depth across both women's and men's wrestling on the senior international stage.
Kajal's Gold: Composure Under Pressure
Kajal, the reigning 2025 U20 World Champion and 2024 U17 World Champion, faced Dymond Precious Guilford of the USA in a tense gold medal final. The bout ended in a 3-3 deadlock, but Kajal held her nerve and prevailed on criteria to secure India's third gold of the tournament. The performance signals that her dominance in age-group competition has translated cleanly to the senior circuit — a transition that not all prodigies manage.
Antim and Neha Sharma Settle for Silver
In the 53kg final, Antim Panghal — one of India's most prominent women wrestlers — was forced to concede her gold medal bout against Sweden's Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren due to an injury, recorded as a VIN loss, and had to settle for silver. In the 57kg category, Neha Sharma put together a strong run to the final but was beaten 0-4 on points by China's Kexin Hong, finishing second on the podium.
Nishu Adds Bronze in 53kg
The 53kg division yielded a second podium finish for India as Nishu claimed bronze in a fiercely contested bout against Romania's Andrea Beatrice Ana. The match ended 2-2, with Nishu declared the winner on criteria (VPO1), rewarding her defensive resilience throughout the contest.
India's Full Medal Tally at Budapest 2026
Women's Wrestling: Neha (59kg) — Gold; Kajal (76kg) — Gold; Antim Panghal (53kg) — Silver; Hansika Lamba (55kg) — Silver; Neha Sharma (57kg) — Silver; Mansi (62kg) — Silver; Nishu (53kg) — Bronze; Savita (62kg) — Bronze. Men's Freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg) — Gold; Deepak (61kg) — Bronze; Vishal Kaliraman (65kg) — Bronze; Rajat Ruhal (125kg) — Bronze.
What's Next for India
With the women's and men's freestyle events concluded, the Indian contingent will now shift focus to the Greco-Roman weight categories, where the squad will look to extend the medal count further. The strong showing at Budapest reinforces India's trajectory as a wrestling powerhouse ahead of the next major international cycle.
Point of View
Not just dominate younger fields. The caveat is Antim Panghal's injury-forced concession, which clouds what could have been a cleaner gold. India's 12-medal haul is impressive in raw numbers, but the silver-heavy count (four of twelve) suggests the squad is consistently reaching finals without always converting — a finishing problem worth monitoring as the Olympic cycle intensifies.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Kajal win the gold medal at Budapest 2026?
Kajal won the gold medal in the women's 76kg category at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026 on 19 July 2026 by defeating USA's Dymond Precious Guilford on criteria after the bout ended in a 3-3 tie. It was India's third gold of the tournament.
Why did Antim Panghal win silver instead of gold at Budapest?
Antim Panghal was forced to concede her 53kg gold medal final against Sweden's Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren due to an injury, resulting in a VIN loss. She settled for silver despite having reached the championship bout.
What is India's total medal tally at the Budapest Ranking Series 2026?
India has won 12 medals through Day 4 of the tournament — 3 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze. The gold medals came from Neha (59kg), Kajal (76kg), and Aman Sehrawat (57kg men's freestyle).
Who is Kajal and what are her previous achievements?
Kajal is a teenage Indian wrestler who is the reigning 2025 U20 World Champion and 2024 U17 World Champion. Her Budapest gold marks a successful transition from age-group dominance to the senior international circuit.
What events are still remaining for India at Budapest 2026?
India's contingent will next compete in the Greco-Roman weight categories, which are yet to be contested. The squad will look to add to their current 12-medal tally before the tournament concludes.
