NAGOYA — The Indian wrestling contingent that touched down in Aichi-Nagoya arrived under a cloud of uncertainty, grappling with persistent injuries, questions regarding current form, and the daunting pressure of international expectations. Yet, as the dust settled on the mat, the squad departed with a haul of six medals—two gold, two silver, and two bronze—and a renewed, singular focus that transcends the regional stage: the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
While the Asian Games success served as a validation of their grit, the narrative emerging from the team is one of forward momentum. For these athletes, Nagoya was not the finish line, but rather a vital testing ground for a much larger mission.
Sehrawat turns a difficult phase into gold
For Aman Sehrawat, the gold medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle division was the profound culmination of a tumultuous stretch in his young career. Following his bronze-medal effort at the Paris Olympics, the 23-year-old battled a crisis of motivation throughout 2025, compounded by a stubborn stomach ailment that sidelined him from several critical qualifying events.
In Nagoya, however, the old Sehrawat returned with a vengeance. His crowning achievement came in the final, where he faced reigning world champion Han Chong Song. After surrendering an early 1-6 lead, Sehrawat showcased remarkable composure, surging back to secure an 11-7 victory.
“Ups and downs, injuries keep happening like this,” Sehrawat remarked upon his return to India. “That phase also comes, but I had the belief in my mind. We should never give up. The plan for the future is exactly the same—we will win gold for the country and prepare accordingly. Now, our national anthem will be played at the LA Olympics.”
Kalkal follows gold with an Olympic-sized ambition
If Sehrawat’s path was a triumph of mental recovery, Sujeet Kalkal’s journey to gold in the 65kg category was a masterclass in tactical resilience. Entering the tournament as the world No. 2, Kalkal faced an immediate trial by fire, dismantling Japan’s Olympic champion, Kotaro Kiyooka, in a high-stakes encounter.
The final against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev threatened to derail his momentum, as Kalkal found himself trailing 2-9. In a stunning display of late-round aggression, he flipped the script, closing the gap to snatch a 10-9 victory. Having successfully defended India’s prestige in a weight class previously dominated by legends like Yogeshwar Dutt and Bajrang Punia, Kalkal is already looking past his latest hardware. “For the Olympics, the practice has already begun,” he stated firmly. “We will practice more, and if all goes well, we will win gold in Los Angeles too.”
From selling milk to a historic Greco-Roman final
Perhaps the most poignant story of the campaign belongs to Nitesh Siwach, whose path to the silver medal in the 97kg Greco-Roman category defies convention. Years of professional exile due to a severe teenage knee injury saw him pivot to his family’s dairy business in Panipat, selling milk to make ends meet.
Returning to the sport, Siwach made history by reaching the first Asian Games final for India in his weight class in 64 years. Although he succumbed 0-4 to Japan’s Yuri Nakazato, the silver medal serves as a foundation for his long-term goal. “People used to say we wouldn’t win medals in Greco-Roman, but we will continue to excel,” Siwach said. “I made some mistakes, which is why I had to settle for silver. My goal going forward is to win gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and I will work extremely hard for it.”
Punia battles through a new weight category
Deepak Punia’s bronze medal is a testament to the versatility required at the elite level. A 2019 World Championships silver medalist, Punia was forced to climb from his traditional 86kg/92kg classes to the 97kg division this year following a muscle injury. Despite the physical disadvantage, he ground out a 2-1 victory over Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar to reach the podium.
“Winning a medal was quite challenging because of the move to 97kg,” Punia explained. “There were many challenges, and my hope and goal was the gold. However, I understood how to handle the pressure. It was just that I had to give my 100 percent, and that’s what I did.”
Panghal improves on Hangzhou, Kumar makes history
The youth movement within the team was further bolstered by Antim Panghal, who upgraded her bronze from Hangzhou to a silver medal in the women’s 53kg category. Despite falling 1-9 to Japan’s Moe Kiyooka in the final, Panghal remains undeterred, viewing the result as a stepping stone. “I had thought I had to come first, but I could not,” she said. “In the future, I will try to do better than this.”
Adding to the historical significance, Sunil Kumar overcame knee surgery to claim bronze in the 87kg Greco-Roman event, becoming the first Indian in that discipline to secure two consecutive Asian Games medals.
Six medals, one bigger dream
The performance in Nagoya did more than secure six medals for the record books; it served as a definitive statement of intent. Between the comebacks of Sehrawat and Kalkal, the perseverance of Siwach and Punia, and the rising potential of Panghal and Kumar, the Indian wrestling contingent is signaling a shift. By focusing on technical refinement, rigorous injury management, and a hardened mental approach, the athletes are positioning themselves not as participants in the global circuit, but as legitimate threats for the podium in Los Angeles. The message is clear: for these wrestlers, the journey to 2028 has already begun in earnest.
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