Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal returned from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a gold medal in the 65 kg freestyle category — and the first thing he reached for was his mother's homemade choorma and kheer. The 23-year-old from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, who trains at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat, said the Haryanvi delicacies are what he misses most when he is away from home.

A Champion's First Meal Back Home

'As soon as I returned, my mother sent choorma and kheer. I train in Sonepat away from home, so my mother keeps sending these things for me. After returning from Japan, I have eaten choorma and kheer the most. I miss choorma even in India because I don't live with my mother and train away from home,' Sujeet said at a press conference organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The weight-cut diet that wrestlers endure in the weeks leading up to competition makes the post-tournament meal all the more meaningful — and Sujeet's answer was decidedly desi.

Historic Gold and a Dramatic Final

Sujeet's triumph hands India its first wrestling gold medal at the Asian Games since Bajrang Punia (65 kg) and Vinesh Phogat topped the podium at Jakarta 2018. The gold medal bout itself was a thriller: Sujeet trailed Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev by 2-9 before mounting a stunning comeback to win 10-9. 'Even when I was trailing in the final bout, my job was to fight until the very end. I put in all the power within me and won the gold for the country,' he said.

An Unbeaten 2026 Season Built on Adversity

The Aichi-Nagoya gold caps an unbeaten run in 2026 for Sujeet. He had already claimed the 2025 U23 World Championships, the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships in the 65 kg category, and a gold at the UWW Ranking Series in Albania in February 2026.

That record, however, was built over years marked by significant setbacks. In 2023, Sujeet had to approach the High Court just to secure a fair trial for the 2023 Asian Games selection spot, after the ad hoc committee running Indian wrestling at the time reportedly gave Bajrang Punia a direct entry into the team. Then, in April 2024, Sujeet and fellow wrestler Deepak Punia were stranded in Dubai when record rainfall and flooding disrupted flight operations in the UAE while they were en route to Bishkek for the Asian Olympic Qualifier. They arrived after the morning weigh-in had begun and were not permitted to compete by the organisers.

Message to His Younger Self: 'God Delays, Never Denies'

Asked what advice he would give to the 2023 version of himself — the one fighting for his rights in court — Sujeet offered a measured, philosophical reply. 'Have faith in yourself and keep working hard. God may delay justice, but it is never denied... If we stay stuck in the past, our present will be hampered, nor will we perform well in the future. Let go of what is gone,' he said.

On the Dubai travel disruption, he was equally stoic: 'That was like a natural disaster — a flood came over there, and there was nothing we could do about it. Our job is to keep trying.' With the Asian Games gold now secured, Sujeet Kalkal's next target on the international calendar is expected to draw considerable attention.