Indian Wrestlers wrapped up its campaign at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Serbia on a high note, securing a total of nine medals — one gold, two silver, and six bronze. The remarkable performance marked another successful year for the young Indian wrestling contingent, underlining the country’s growing prowess in both men’s and women’s wrestling on the global stage.
The highlight of the tournament came on the final day when Sujeet Kalkal clinched the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 65kg category, delivering a dominant performance that left wrestling fans in awe. Sujeet faced Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov, a senior world championships bronze medallist and former U20 world champion, in the final bout. The Indian wrestler showcased complete technical mastery, overpowering Jalolov 10-0 via technical superiority to secure the title.
This triumph was particularly special as it was India’s only medal in the men’s freestyle events at this edition and also its fourth-ever gold medal in the history of the U23 World Wrestling Championships, which has seen eight editions so far.
India’s previous gold medallists at the U23 Worlds include Aman Sehrawat, who became the first Indian to win gold in 2022 (men’s 57kg category), Reetika Hooda, who triumphed under the United World Wrestling (UWW) flag in the women’s 76kg division in 2023, and Chirag Chikkara, who claimed the top podium in men’s 57kg at last year’s edition in Tirana, Albania.
Strong Start with Greco-Roman Medal
India’s medal campaign began with Vishvajit More, who secured a bronze medal in the men’s Greco-Roman 55kg category. Interestingly, this was More’s second consecutive bronze at the U23 World Championships — a testament to his consistency at the global level. Coincidentally, he also opened India’s medal tally at the 2024 edition, reflecting his continued reliability in the Greco-Roman discipline.
Women Wrestlers Dominate with Team Title
The Indian women wrestlers were the standout performers of the tournament, clinching the team title with an impressive haul of two silver and five bronze medals. Their collective effort demonstrated both depth and resilience across multiple weight categories.
Priya Malik, a former U20 world champion, earned India’s first women’s freestyle medal at the 2025 championships by winning bronze in the 76kg category. Her podium finish reaffirmed her status as one of India’s most promising young grapplers.
Joining her on the podium was Neha Sharma, the reigning Asian U20 champion, who captured bronze in the women’s 57kg division. The victory added a third U23 Worlds medal to her growing international resume.
Another highlight came from Nishu, who stunned the competition in the women’s 55kg category. She defeated 2024 world champion Moe Kiyooka of Japan in a thrilling round-of-16 bout before eventually settling for a bronze medal. Her victory over the Japanese star was one of the biggest upsets of the championship and a sign of India’s growing depth in women’s wrestling.
In the silver medal tally, Sarika (59kg) and Hansika Lamba (53kg) both reached the finals in their respective categories, earning silver medals after impressive runs through the draw. Though they narrowly missed out on gold, their performances played a crucial role in India clinching the women’s team crown.
India’s Rising Wrestling Power
With a final tally of one gold, two silver, and six bronze medals, India once again proved its mettle on the world stage. The performance was particularly encouraging as the country fielded one wrestler in nearly every category, competing against over 700 athletes from around the world.
The results also underscore India’s growing strength at the developmental level, as the U23 competition serves as a vital platform for future Olympians and senior world championship contenders. The emergence of new names like Sujeet Kalkal and the continued success of established young stars such as Priya Malik and Neha Sharma point to a bright future for Indian wrestling.
As India closes the 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships with pride, the country’s grapplers have once again demonstrated that they belong among the world’s best — a promising sign ahead of future senior world events and the road to the 2028 Olympics.
