Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Kajal Dhochak’s World Title Highlights Wrestling’s Funding Gap
Kajal Dhochak is a young wrestler from Haryana, India.
She recently won a major world title in the 76-kilogram category.
She won every match without giving up a technical point.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, her mother practiced with her at home because training centers were closed.
Dhochak’s coaches also helped her move into a heavier weight class.
Many wrestlers in her area earn money by competing in local village matches.
However, those matches do not always provide the same training as international competitions.
Government and private groups help some athletes pay for coaching, travel, food, and medical care.
The biggest challenge is keeping talented wrestlers funded as they move from junior to senior competition.
Kajal Dhochak won her second Under-20 World Championship at 76kg in Bratislava, outscoring opponents 35-0 without conceding a technical point.
Her mother, Babita, became her at-home sparring partner when COVID-19 closures left Dhochak without training partners.
Dhochak moved into heavier weight categories after gaining weight during the pandemic, with coaches adapting her training rather than restricting her.
Indian wrestlers often rely on village dangas for quick prize money, but repeated competition can hinder technical development and cause injuries.
Government schemes and private programs provide support, but junior champions may still face high costs and a funding gap before reaching senior competition.
- Who
- Kajal Dhochak, a wrestler from Lath village, along with her mother Babita, coaches Kuldeep Malik and Ajay Malik, and uncle Krishan Dhochak.
- What
- Dhochak won the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship at 76kg, highlighting the financial and infrastructure challenges facing Indian wrestlers.
- When
- She won the title at the Under-20 World Wrestling Championships in Bratislava; her at-home training with her mother began during the 2020 COVID-19 closures.
- Where
- The championship took place in Bratislava, while Dhochak trained in Lath village, Sonipat district, Haryana, and at Kuldeep Malik Sports Academy.
- Why
- She succeeded through family support, coaching, and government and private assistance, but the story also raises concerns about the money required to progress from junior to senior wrestling.
Benefits of the Existing System
Criticism and Reform Arguments
Village dangas
Benefits of the Existing System
Local wrestling meets provide immediate prize money, sometimes ranging from ₹5,000 to more than ₹100,000 for a bout, as well as larger prizes such as tractors, motorcycles, and buffaloes.
Criticism and Reform Arguments
Because dangas use mud rather than international synthetic mats, frequent participation can disrupt footwork, strain knees, and encourage athletes to chase short-term earnings instead of long-term technical development.
Junior athlete awards
Benefits of the Existing System
Haryana’s cash-award policy gives junior athletes a substantial share of senior award rates, while government schemes and private programs provide additional assistance.
Criticism and Reform Arguments
The article cites Bajrang Punia’s criticism that junior awards are too low compared with the physical demands of competition, and says delays in receiving payments can leave champions financing their own training.
Support after junior success
Benefits of the Existing System
Programs such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, the Inspire Institute of Sport, and Olympic Gold Quest create pathways for selected athletes to receive coaching, travel, equipment, and medical support.
Criticism and Reform Arguments
Critics of the current system argue that many junior champions still face a funding gap between ages 18 and 21, when senior-level diet, international camps, and sports medicine become more expensive.
- World title
- Dhochak won the 76kg gold at the Under-20 World Wrestling Championships in Bratislava.
- Tournament record
- She outscored her opponents 35-0 and conceded no technical points.
- International golds
- The Bratislava victory was described as her fifth international gold of the calendar year.
- Home training
- Her mother Babita trained with her during the pandemic when akhadas were closed and other partners were unavailable.
- Khelo India support
- Selected athletes receive ₹6.28 lakh annually, including direct transfers and spending on academy fees, coaching, equipment, and medical support.
- Heavyweight expenses
- Monthly food and supplement costs for a heavyweight wrestler can reach ₹40,000 to ₹60,000.
- International training costs
- Travel, visas, camps, and coaching support can push annual expenses beyond ₹30 lakh.