Manisha Bhanwala made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. On October 30, she secured the title in the 59kg weight category by defeating America’s Abigail Elizabeth Nette by 8–6.
India concluded its campaign at the 2026 championships with a total of four medals—one gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Trailing 0-6 in the final, Bhanwala made an impressive comeback to win the bout 8-6. Her victory marks a historic milestone for Indian women’s wrestling, as no Indian woman had previously won a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships.
India’s other medals were won by Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi, who secured silver, while Tanu Sharma clinched a bronze medal in the 72kg category. This result marked a significant improvement in India’s women’s wrestling campaign, with four athletes finishing on the podium. In men’s freestyle, Vicky Hooda lost 0-10 to Iran’s Hassan Yazdani in the 97kg repechage, while Indian wrestlers in the 61kg, 70kg, 86kg and 125kg categories exited in the preliminary rounds.
India’s Medal Tally in Women’s Wrestling at the 2026 World Championships
- Gold: Manisha Bhanwala (59kg)
- Silver: Kajal Dhochak, Neelam Sirohi
- Bronze: Tanu Sharma (72kg)
Bhanwala’s historic win marks a major milestone for Indian wrestling and adds another proud moment to the country’s sporting achievements on the global stage.
