Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal exited the men's freestyle 65 kg quarterfinal at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana on Thursday, 29 October 2026, suffering a narrow 3-3 criteria defeat to Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev — the same wrestler Kalkal had defeated at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. In a contrasting result, Manisha Moun powered into the women's 59 kg semifinal with a commanding 6-0 win over Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu.

Sujeet's Heartbreak Against a Familiar Rival

The quarterfinal against Kudiev was a rematch with significant history. Kalkal had previously defeated the Tajik 7-2 in the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Championships and had also beaten him in Aichi-Nagoya to claim the Asian Games gold, launching a remarkable comeback from 2-9 down. On Thursday, the script ran differently. Sujeet took a 3-1 lead and even managed to go behind Kudiev for a takedown, but the Tajik wrestler reached for Sujeet's heel to defend and then converted a takedown of his own. Kudiev's 3-3 criteria advantage — which he never relinquished — proved decisive. This was their third meeting in 2026 alone, making the rivalry one of the more compelling sub-plots of the championship.

Sujeet's Earlier Dominance in the Opening Bout

Before the quarterfinal setback, Kalkal had looked imperious. He overwhelmed Nino Leutert of Switzerland in the round of 16, deploying two-arm throws worth two points apiece before landing a four-pointer to race to an 8-0 lead. Leutert earned a stepout to prolong the contest, but Sujeet sealed the bout with a second-period takedown for a dominant 12-1 technical-superiority win.

Vicky Hooda Also Exits in 97 kg QF

In the 97 kg freestyle category, Vicky Hooda was beaten 2-12 via technical superiority by Japan's Arash Yoshida. Yoshida controlled the bout throughout with a series of stepouts and takedowns before countering a move for a four-pointer. Hooda managed two points, but Yoshida had little difficulty seeing out the clock. Both Sujeet and Vicky retain a chance for a bronze medal through the repechage route, provided their respective quarterfinal opponents — Kudiev and Yoshida — advance to their respective finals.

Manisha Moun Storms Into Women's 59 kg Semis

The bright spot for India came from Manisha Moun, who was clinical in the women's 59 kg bracket. She had earlier edged Canada's Laurence Beauregard 6-2 in the quarterfinals before dismissing Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu 6-0 with two stepouts and two takedowns in the semifinal — booking India's first confirmed spot in a medal round at these championships.

Ahilya Shinde's Tough Day in 55 kg

In the women's 55 kg category, Ahilya Shinde opened with a strong 8-1 victory over Cuba's Yaynelis Sanz Verdecia before falling 6-9 to Turkiye's Tuba Demir in the quarterfinals. Demir overturned a 3-0 deficit in the second period, leading with a whizzer counter and a subsequent exposure to move ahead 5-4. A late takedown with 12 seconds remaining appeared to put the contest to bed, but both wrestlers exchanged two-point exposures in a breathless finish. Shinde remains in contention for a bronze medal if Demir reaches the 55 kg final.

With the semifinals and repechage rounds ahead, India's medal prospects at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana hinge on Manisha's semifinal performance and whether Kudiev and Yoshida continue their runs to the final.