NEW DELHI: Sujeet Kalkal ended India’s wait for a wrestling gold at the Asian Games 2026 with a stunning comeback in the men’s freestyle 65kg category on Friday.The 23-year-old Indian defeated Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiyev 10-9 in a dramatic final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.Kalkal was trailing 2-9 for most of the bout and looked set to miss out on the gold. But he produced a remarkable late fightback, scoring eight points in a row to turn the match around and seal India’s first wrestling gold at the Games.
Dominant run to the final
Kalkal had already beaten tough opponents from Afghanistan, Iran and Japan on his way to the final.He began his campaign against Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai and fell 0-3 behind early. Kalkal then changed the match with a push-out and a shoulder throw to take a 5-3 lead.He added four more points with another throw and a roll before completing a 13-3 win by technical superiority to move into the quarterfinals.Kalkal then produced another clinical performance against Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi. He won by technical superiority without conceding a single point.
Beat Olympic champion
The biggest test came in the semifinal against Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka.Kalkal trailed 0-2 after the first period but fought back in the second. He scored three points while Kiyooka managed only one, leaving the bout tied 3-3.Kalkal won the contest on criteria to book his place in the final.
Eight straight points for gold
Kudiyev made a strong start in the final and built a 9-2 lead. The Tajik wrestler appeared to be close to winning the gold, but Kalkal refused to give up.The Indian then produced a sensational finish, scoring eight points in a row to overturn the deficit and win 10-9.The victory gave Kalkal his first Asian Games gold medal and India’s first wrestling gold at the 2026 Games.
