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Sujeet Kalkal Claims Asian Games Gold After Dramatic Comeback
Sujeet Kalkal won the men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
In the final, he was losing 2-9 to Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev.
Sujeet then scored eight points in a row and won 10-9.
He used speed and takedowns to turn the match around.
Earlier, he beat Iranian wrestler Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 10-0.
He also defeated Japanese Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinal on criteria after a 3-3 tie.
This was Sujeet’s first Asian Games gold medal.
The article says he had also won several major titles during the previous 12 months.
Dipanshi Phogat reached the women’s 50kg bronze-medal contest after winning a repechage bout.
Other Indian wrestlers, including Rajat Ruhul and Priya Malik, were eliminated in their events.
Sujeet Kalkal defeated Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in the men’s freestyle 65kg final.
Kalkal recovered from a 2-9 deficit by scoring eight consecutive points.
He beat Japanese Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka 3-3 on criteria in the semifinal.
Kalkal defeated Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 10-0 by technical superiority in the quarterfinal.
The victory gave the 23-year-old Indian his first Asian Games gold medal.
- Who
- India’s Sujeet Kalkal defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the final and overcame opponents including Kotaro Kiyooka.
- What
- Kalkal won the Asian Games men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling gold medal.
- Where
- At the Asian Games; the specific venue is not identified.
- When
- Friday at the 2026 Asian Games.
- Why
- He won by overcoming Kudiev’s 2-9 lead and scoring eight straight points in the final.
Key facts
- Winner
- Sujeet Kalkal of India
- Event
- Men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling
- Final
- Defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 after trailing 2-9
- Semifinal
- Defeated Japanese Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka 3-3 on criteria
- Quarterfinal
- Defeated Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 10-0 by technical superiority
- Opening bout
- Defeated Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai 13-3 by technical superiority
- Other Indian result
- Dipanshi Phogat won her repechage 10-0 and advanced to the women’s 50kg bronze play-off
- Other eliminations
- Rajat Ruhul and Priya Malik lost their pre-quarterfinal bouts
Sources
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