Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Sujeet Kalkal Completes Comeback for India’s Asian Games Gold
Sujeet Kalkal won a gold medal for India in freestyle wrestling.
He competed in the 65-kilogram weight class.
In the final, Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev led 9-2.
Sujeet kept trying and scored several takedowns near the end.
He eventually won the match 10-9.
One report says his final takedown came with 11 seconds left.
Before the final, he defeated Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka.
His win ended India’s eight-year wait for an Asian Games wrestling gold.
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 late in the match.
He completed the winning takedown with 11 seconds remaining, according to one report.
Kalkal beat reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan 3-3 on criteria in the semifinal.
The victory ended India’s wait for an Asian Games wrestling gold since 2018.
- Who
- Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal and Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev, with Kalkal also defeating Japan’s Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinal.
- What
- Kalkal won the men’s freestyle 65kg final 10-9 after overturning a 2-9 deficit.
- When
- Friday during the 2026 Asian Games.
- Where
- The competition took place in Aichi-Nagoya, with the final reported at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Nishio.
- Why
- Kalkal’s late takedowns secured the gold medal and ended India’s wait for an Asian Games wrestling gold since 2018.
- Event
- 2026 Asian Games
- Sport
- Men’s freestyle wrestling
- Weight class
- 65kg
- Final
- Sujeet Kalkal defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9
- Comeback
- Kalkal overturned a 2-9 deficit and scored eight consecutive points late in the bout
- Semifinal
- Kalkal defeated reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka 3-3 on criteria
- Historical significance
- India’s first Asian Games wrestling gold since 2018
Sources
Sujeet Kalkal wins first wrestling gold for India at 2026 Asian Games
Asian Games 2026: Sujeet Kalkal Scripts Stunning Comeback From 2-9 Down To Win Wrestling Gold, Ends India's 8-Year Wait | Watch
Asian Games: Sujeet Kalkal scripts late comeback to win gold in 65kg freestyle wrestling