Sujeet Kalkal Wins Gold At U-23 World Wrestling Championship

India’s rising wrestling star Sujeet (65kg Freestyle) delivered a stellar performance at the 2025 U-23 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, earning India’s first gold medal in the tournament.

Sujeet began his campaign with a dominant performance, defeating his Moldovan opponent 12-2 in the opening round. He then outclassed his Polish rival through technical superiority (11-0) to advance confidently into the quarterfinals.

In a closely contested quarterfinal, Sujeet edged out a UWW wrestler 4-2, showing composure under pressure.

The semifinal was another nail-biting encounter, where he narrowly beat his Japanese challenger 3-2, securing his spot in the gold medal bout.

The final saw Sujeet at his absolute best, displaying tactical brilliance, swift moves, and complete control.

He overpowered his Uzbek opponent by technical superiority (10-0), capturing the gold medal for India and marking a proud moment for the nation’s wrestling fraternity.

Earlier in the tournament, India’s women’s wrestling team had already made headlines by clinching five bronze medals and two silver medals, along with the overall team championship title, a remarkable achievement that showcases India’s depth in women’s wrestling.

Kalkal’s gold remains the only medal for India in the men’s category this year, as two other wrestlers fell short in their respective bronze medal bouts.

The championship concluded today, highlighting India’s growing influence on the global wrestling stage.

Sujeet’s victory not only adds to India’s medal tally but also serves as a strong statement of the country’s emerging young talent in the international arena.

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