Tanu Sharma wins silver at U20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia
Synopsis
A village girl from Bhaklana who once refused a welcome home after a Khelo India gold — saying 'welcome me when I bring an international prize' — has now delivered exactly that. Tanu Sharma's U20 World Wrestling silver in Slovakia is the fulfilment of a very public promise, and a sign of what Haryana's wrestling pipeline continues to produce.
Key Takeaways
Tanu Sharma won a silver medal in the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia on 21 August .
She competed in the 72kg category , losing the final 5-3 to Japan's Chisato Yoshidda .
Sharma hails from Bhaklana village in Hansi, Haryana , and trains at the SAI Sports Academy, Hisar .
Her uncle, retired Indian Army member Narendra Sharma , first encouraged her to pursue wrestling.
She previously won two bronzes and a gold at various Khelo India games before her international breakthrough.
Her village, Bhaklana , is preparing a formal welcome after she had earlier declined one until she won an international medal.
Indian wrestler Tanu Sharma claimed a silver medal in the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia, competing in the 72kg category on 21 August. The achievement marks a landmark moment for the young grappler from Bhaklana village in Hansi, Haryana, whose family erupted in celebration back home.
How the Final Unfolded
Sharma fell short of gold in a closely contested final, losing 5-3 to Japan's Chisato Yoshidda. Despite the defeat, her run through the championship drew widespread acclaim. Speaking to reporters after the bout, she dedicated the medal to her village and the country, vowing to return with gold. 'I am from a small village of Bhaklana in Haryana. I am extremely pleased that I have won a medal at the U20 World Championships for my nation,' she said.
She also expressed gratitude to her family, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), and her coaches. 'This is not just my medal, but a prize that belongs to my entire nation and my village. I missed winning gold, but I will bag it the next time and make my nation more proud,' she added.
The Road to Slovakia
Sharma's wrestling journey began in Bhaklana, where her father Virendra Shastri recounted her childhood passion for the sport. 'The girl had a special interest in sports from childhood. She used to play with her cousins and used to beat all the children of her age,' he said. Her uncle, Narendra Sharma, a retired member of the Indian Army, spotted her talent and encouraged her to take up wrestling professionally.
Virendra subsequently enrolled her at a coaching academy under coach Sanjay Sia, who later facilitated her entry into the SAI Sports Academy in Hisar. The foundation proved decisive in shaping her competitive career.
Khelo India Medals and a Telling Vow
Before her international breakthrough, Sharma built her credentials through the Khelo India circuit — winning a bronze at the Khelo India Youth Games in Bhopal, another bronze at the Khelo India University Games in Nagaland, and ultimately a gold at the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai. Notably, after the Chennai gold, she reportedly declined a grand village welcome, telling her family: 'This is not a big medal; welcome me when I bring an international prize.' That moment has now arrived.
Celebrations in Bhaklana
Back in Bhaklana, Sharma's family and neighbours celebrated with sweets as her parents watched their daughter compete from Slovakia. Her mother, Suman Lata, said: 'I am very happy, sir. Everyone in the village is happy.' She attributed her daughter's physical conditioning to a diet of milk, curd, juice, and almonds. 'The whole village is with her. The girl has made the whole village proud,' Lata added. Sharma's family confirmed the village is preparing a formal welcome for her return.
With a U20 World silver now on her record, all eyes will be on whether Sharma can convert this momentum into senior international glory in the seasons ahead.
Point of View
SAI academies, and Khelo India feeder competitions working in tandem. What stands out here is not just the medal but the self-imposed bar she set: she refused a village welcome after domestic gold, reserving it for international podium finishes. That competitive self-awareness, at the U20 level, is precisely the trait that separates athletes who peak early from those who build sustained careers. The WFI and the Sports Authority of India would do well to track her trajectory closely rather than let the post-championship spotlight fade.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tanu Sharma, the wrestler who won silver at the U20 World Championships?
Tanu Sharma is a young Indian wrestler from Bhaklana village in Hansi, Haryana. She competes in the 72kg category and trains at the SAI Sports Academy in Hisar, having been introduced to the sport by her uncle, retired Indian Army member Narendra Sharma.
What was the result of Tanu Sharma's final at the U20 World Wrestling Championships?
Sharma lost the final 5-3 to Japan's Chisato Yoshidda, finishing with a silver medal. The match was held at the U20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia.
What Khelo India medals did Tanu Sharma win before her U20 World silver?
Sharma won a bronze at the Khelo India Youth Games in Bhopal, another bronze at the Khelo India University Games in Nagaland, and a gold at the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai before her international breakthrough in Slovakia.
Why did Tanu Sharma refuse a village welcome after winning Khelo India gold?
According to her father Virendra Shastri, Sharma told her village after the Khelo India gold that it was 'not a big medal' and asked them to welcome her only when she won an international prize. That condition has now been met with her U20 World silver.
Which organisation supported Tanu Sharma's wrestling career?
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) both played a role in Sharma's development. Her coach Sanjay Sia first trained her before enrolling her at the SAI Sports Academy in Hisar, Haryana.
