Sujeet Kalkal: Asian Games 2026 gold medallist eyes World Championship glory in Astana
Synopsis
Down 2-9 in the Asian Games 65kg freestyle final with less than two minutes left, Sujeet Kalkal turned the match around to win 10-9 — and now he's heading to the Wrestling World Championships in Astana saying the only Diwali he knows is bringing gold home for India.
Key Takeaways
Sujeet Kalkal , 23 , from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana , won the 65 kg freestyle gold at the Asian Games 2026 .
He overcame a 2-9 deficit against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev , winning 10-9 in the final.
He had earlier defeated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan en route to gold.
Sujeet targets gold at the UWW Wrestling World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan , from 24 October to 1 November 2026 .
He trains at SAI Sonepat and received international exposure in Russia and Armenia ahead of the Asian Games, backed by TOPS , SAI , and WFI .
Asian Games 2026 gold medallist wrestler Sujeet Kalkal has his sights firmly set on the UWW Wrestling World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan — scheduled from 24 October to 1 November — and says winning gold for India is celebration enough for any festival. The 23-year-old from Imlota village in Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana, made the remarks at a press conference organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday.
The Diwali Mindset
'Winning a gold medal for the country at the Asian Games — that itself is Diwali for me,' Sujeet said, calm and composed throughout the interaction. He revealed that demanding competition schedules have kept him away from home during both Holi and Diwali for years. 'My father says that if you bring home gold, that in itself is Diwali and Holi,' he added. With the World Championships concluding just a week before Diwali, Sujeet is chasing another gold as his personal celebration.
The Stunning Asian Games Comeback
Sujeet's 65 kg freestyle gold at the Asian Games was nothing short of dramatic. He first eliminated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the final, then mounted a remarkable fightback against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev. Trailing 2-9 at the end of the first period — with only one minute and 40 seconds remaining — he clawed back to 9-8 before a two-point takedown sealed the match 10-9 in his favour. 'I couldn't control the final bout in the beginning because I couldn't warm up properly at that time. After that, I established a good grip in the second period, and every attack I attempted was successful. By the end of the match, I had covered all the points,' Sujeet explained.
Targeting the World Championships
Sujeet described the UWW World Championships as even tougher than both the Asian Games and the Olympics. Rather than following a specific tactical blueprint, he said his preparation focuses on eliminating errors from previous outings. 'This is a very important competition, and it's going to be even tougher than the Olympics. We just work on the mistakes made in previous competitions so that they aren't repeated in the upcoming ones,' he said. The reigning Asian champion, who trains at SAI Sonepat, underwent training exposure in Russia and Armenia before the continental showpiece.
Role of Foreign Exposure and Support System
Sujeet credited the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), SAI, and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for enabling international training stints. 'Because of them, we get foreign exposures. Training plays the most important role in the medals we win. There were champions wrestlers in Russia — World Championship, Asian Games, and Olympic medallists were there — so there was a lot to learn, and we also competed there. It was a great experience,' he said. Such cross-exposure has become a cornerstone of India's medal-building programme in combat sports.
What's Next
With the Wrestling World Championships beginning on 24 October in Astana, Sujeet's form and mental fortitude — tested and proven at the Asian Games — make him one of India's strongest contenders for a podium finish. A gold in Kazakhstan would cap a remarkable competitive season and add World champion to his growing list of titles.
Point of View
Which remains under-evaluated publicly, has genuinely closed the technical gap with Russia, Iran, and Japan at the senior world level. India's wrestling podium count at the Worlds has historically lagged its Asian Games performance — Astana will be a meaningful data point on that gap.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sujeet Kalkal and what did he win at the Asian Games 2026?
Sujeet Kalkal is a 23-year-old Indian freestyle wrestler from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, who won the gold medal in the 65 kg category at the Asian Games 2026. He mounted a stunning comeback from 2-9 down to defeat Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in the final, having also beaten reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan earlier in the bout.
When and where are the UWW Wrestling World Championships 2026?
The UWW Wrestling World Championships 2026 are scheduled from 24 October to 1 November 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event concludes approximately one week before Diwali, which Sujeet has said he hopes to mark with a gold medal win.
How did Sujeet Kalkal come back from 2-9 down in the Asian Games final?
With only one minute and 40 seconds remaining in the gold-medal bout, Sujeet launched a sustained fightback, first reducing the deficit to 9-8 and then executing a two-point takedown to win 10-9. He attributed the slow start to an inability to warm up properly before the match.
How is Sujeet preparing for the Wrestling World Championships?
Sujeet trains at SAI Sonepat and says his preparation for the World Championships focuses on correcting mistakes from previous competitions rather than following a specific tactical plan. He underwent international training stints in Russia and Armenia before the Asian Games, supported by TOPS, SAI, and WFI.
Why does Sujeet Kalkal say winning gold is like Diwali for him?
Sujeet says he has not been home for Holi or Diwali in years due to back-to-back competition schedules. His father's advice — that bringing home gold is itself a celebration — has become his personal philosophy, making every major victory a substitute for the festivals he misses.
