The Indian wrestler rallied from 2-9 down to beat Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in the men’s 65kg final.
Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal won Asian Games gold in the men’s 65kg category after coming back from a 2-9 deficit against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the final. Kalkal prevailed 10-9. The victory ended an eight-year wait for India to win a wrestling gold at the Asian Games.
The title marked a comeback after Kalkal’s missed chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In 2024, he was travelling to Bishkek for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament when floods disrupted travel and left him stranded at Dubai airport for three days. By the time a flight was arranged, he could no longer reach the event in time to compete for a place at the Games.
Kalkal negotiated a difficult draw on the way to the final. In the quarterfinal, he threw Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi from a standing position within the opening 20 seconds. He then beat Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinal. In the final, Kalkal stayed in the contest despite the large deficit and scored the points needed to turn it around.
After the final whistle, Kalkal folded his hands in thanks and took a lap of the arena with the Indian flag over his shoulders. He told the Times of India that he dedicated the medal to the country and credited his father with supporting him throughout his career. He said the Dubai episode had made him stronger rather than breaking his confidence.
Kalkal named the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as his next major goal. He said he did not want to go merely to participate and intended to compete for gold. His previous achievements include an under-23 world title, Asian Championships success and a Zagreb Open victory.