India’s wrestling campaign at the upcoming Asian Games is set to be a test of endurance and skill, as top contenders
Sujeet Kalkal enters the 65kg division as one of India's most in-form freestyle wrestlers. The 23-year-old U-23 world champion, who secured gold at the Asian Championships and the Zagreb Open earlier in 2026, faces a difficult bracket. He is positioned in the same half as Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka, with a potential quarterfinal clash against Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadeh looming before a possible semifinal showdown with the Japanese star.
High-Stakes Draws for Indian Contenders
For Antim Panghal, the 53kg competition offers a chance to reclaim the spotlight. The two-time World Championships medallist and Hangzhou Asian Games bronze winner finds herself in the same half of the draw as China’s Zhang Jin. Having previously defeated the Chinese wrestler in two closely contested meetings, Panghal will look to maintain that momentum. Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat faces an immediate challenge in the 57kg class, with a potential opening-round bout against either Olympic bronze medallist Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan or Japan’s Yamato Ogawa.
The wider Indian squad also faces significant hurdles. In the men’s 74kg freestyle category, Sagar Jaglan is set to meet reigning Asian champion Tulga Tumur Ochir of Mongolia in his opening match. Conversely, Deepak Punia, competing at 97kg, has a more favorable start against China’s Zhou Junpeng, keeping him clear of top-tier rivals until the later stages of the tournament.
Women’s and Greco-Roman Challenges
The women’s division features several notable matchups, including Nisha Dahiya’s 68kg opener against North Korea’s Pak Sol Gum—the same opponent she faced during her injury-shortened Paris Olympic quarterfinal. Additionally, debutant Dipanshi faces a formidable task in the 50kg category, where she is drawn against former world and Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan. Susaki, who holds a near-perfect career record, remains one of the most difficult opponents in the field.
In the Greco-Roman discipline, hopes rest on experienced competitors such as Hangzhou bronze medallist Sunil Kumar and Nitesh Siwach. Sunil is on a path that could lead to a semifinal against Japan’s Taizo Yoshida, while Nitesh faces a bracket that includes strong challengers from Turkmenistan and Mongolia. As the team looks to improve upon the six-medal haul achieved at the 2022 Asian Games, the focus remains on navigating these high-pressure draws to secure a spot on the podium.
