Full Breakdown
Sujeet Kalkal’s Comeback Gold Secures India’s First Wrestling Title at Asian Games 2026
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The Final Showdown: 65 kg Freestyle Gold
On October 2, 2026 at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center, 23-year-old Sujeet Kalkal captured India’s first wrestling gold of the Games in the men’s freestyle 65 kg category. After falling behind 2-9 early in the bout against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev (some reports spell the name as Abdulmajid Kudiyev), Kalkal scored eight unanswered points to win 10-9. The decisive sequence began with a takedown that cut the deficit to 8-9 with just over a minute left, followed by another takedown that put him ahead, and a final two-point takedown in the last seconds sealed the victory.
Path to the Final
- Round of 16: Defeated Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai 13-3 by technical superiority, overturning an early 0-3 gap with a push-out, shoulder throw and a series of throws and rolls.
- Quarterfinal: Overcame Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 10-0, scoring a shoulder throw, leg attacks and head-locks to achieve technical superiority without conceding a point.
- Semifinal: Beat Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka 3-3, advancing on criteria after delivering the higher-scoring move in a tightly contested bout.
Data & Statistics
| Round | Opponent | Score | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 | Sayed Omar Zazai (AFG) | 13-3 | Technical superiority (VSU1) |
| Quarterfinal | Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi (IRI) | 10-0 | Technical superiority (VSU) |
| Semifinal | Kotaro Kiyooka (JPN) | 3-3 (win on criteria) | Victory by points (VPO1) |
| Final | Abdulmazhid Kudiev (TJK) | 10-9 | Victory by points (VPO1) |
Official Statements & Responses
The coach also praised Kalkal’s mental composure, saying the six-minute bout required “complete focus” against an Olympic champion on home soil.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are not thinking about silver or bronze,” — Sujeet’s, pleased the coach
- “He has to go to Los Angeles,” — Shako Bentinidis, india’s foreign coach
Why It Matters
The victory ends a seven-year gap since India’s last Asian Games wrestling gold in the 65 kg class, previously secured by Bajrang Punia in 2018. Kalkal joins Yogeshwar Dutt (2014) and Punia as the only Indian wrestlers to win the title in this weight class. The win also bolsters his profile ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, positioning him as a leading contender for a medal at the next Games.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Opponent’s name: The final opponent is identified as Abdulmazhid Kudiev in most sources, while a few outlets use Abdulmajid Kudiyev. Both refer to the same Tajik wrestler.
- Future events: No official schedule for post-Games appearances or qualification events for Kalkal has been disclosed in the available reports.