18-year-old Chirag Chikkara secured India’s only gold medal at the U23 World Wrestling Championships held in Tirana, Albania.
Competing in the men’s freestyle 57kg category, Chirag clinched the top spot after a thrilling final against Kyrgyzstan’s Abdymalik Karachov, winning 4-3.
Chirag’s victory not only marks a significant achievement for him personally but also positions him as only the second Indian male wrestler and the third overall to win gold at this prestigious event.
His success contributed to India’s impressive overall tally of nine medals at the championships.
The journey to gold began with a decisive 6-1 victory over Japan’s Gatuko Ozawa in the first round.
He continued his dominance in the quarterfinals, where he overwhelmed Russia’s Iunus Iavbatirov with a 12-2 score.
In a pivotal semifinal match against Kazakhstan’s Allan Oralbek, Chirag showcased his exceptional talent, securing a place in the final before edging out Karachov for the gold.
Chirag follows in the footsteps of Aman Sehrawat, who won India’s first U23 wrestling gold last year in the same weight category, along with Reetika Hooda, who took gold in the women’s 76kg category.
The men’s freestyle category proved fruitful for India, with Sujeet Kalkal capturing a bronze medal in the 70kg division.
He triumphed with a convincing 13-4 victory over Mustafo Akhmedov of Tajikistan.
Additionally, Vicky Chahar achieved an impressive win against former U20 World Championships silver medalist Ivan Prymachenko from Ukraine, clinching another bronze with a score of 7-2.
Abhishek Dhaka set the tone for the men’s freestyle team, also earning a bronze in the 61kg category.
In the women’s freestyle, India finished fifth overall, highlighted by Anjli’s silver medal in the 59kg category, bolstered by three bronze medals from her teammates.
The Greco-Roman squad, however, faced challenges, with Vishwajit Ramchandra More standing out as the only medalist, securing bronze in the 55kg category, ultimately finishing 12th overall.
India concluded the championships with a commendable medal tally: one gold, one silver, and seven bronze, underscoring the nation’s growing prowess in wrestling on the global stage.
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