The final bout saw Kudiev take control early, utilizing arm locks to stifle Sujeet’s offensive rhythm during the first period. However, Sujeet adjusted his tactics, leveraging his superior speed to execute a series of takedowns. With only 20 seconds remaining on the clock, he secured the decisive points needed to edge ahead, successfully defending his narrow lead until the final whistle to claim the title.
A Year of Unrivaled Dominance
This victory marks a significant milestone in a stellar 12-month period for Sujeet, who has now secured titles at the U23 World Championships, the Asian Championships, the Zagreb Open, and the Tirana tournament. His only notable absence from the podium during this stretch occurred at the Mongolian Open in June, where a knee injury forced his withdrawal.
Sujeet’s path to the gold medal was defined by clinical performances against world-class opposition. He opened his campaign with a 13-3 technical superiority win over Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai, followed by a dominant 10-0 victory against Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he displayed tactical maturity by defeating Japanese Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka on criteria after the bout ended in a 3-3 tie.
Mixed Results for the Indian Contingent
While Sujeet celebrated his triumph, other members of the Indian wrestling squad faced varying fortunes on the mat. Young prospect Dipanshi Phogat, competing in the women's 50kg category, suffered an early loss to Japan’s Yui Susaki but earned a spot in the repechage. Although she secured a 10-0 victory against Cambodia’s Samnang Dit, she was ultimately defeated in the bronze medal match by Kazakhstan’s Zeinip Bayanova.
Elsewhere, Rajat was eliminated in the men’s 125kg pre-quarterfinals following a 3-8 loss to Kazakhstan’s Yedige Kassimbekin, while Priya Malik exited the women’s 76kg competition after a 1-6 defeat to Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy. The Indian wrestling campaign is set to continue on Saturday, with Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, Deepak Punia, Antim Panghal, and Manisha Bhanwala scheduled to compete.
