Archive · 2 Oct 2026
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.
- When
- Friday at the 2026 Asian Games.
- Where
- At the Asian Games; the specific venue is not identified.
- Why
- He won by overcoming Kudiev’s 2-9 lead and scoring eight straight points in the final.
- 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
