Wrestling

Sujeet Kalkal bags gold for India at the U23 World Wrestling Championships

Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal won the gold medal in the men's freestyle 65kg title clash at the U23 World Championships with a 10-0 victory over Uzbekistan's Umidjon Jalolov here on Monday. The contest lasted four minutes and 54 seconds as the referee declared the Indian winner. It was victory by superiority for Kalkal who dominated the title clash against his Uzbek opponent. Prior to this, Kalkal had never won a world title but had two U23 Asian titles (2022, 2025) and one U20 Asian Championship gold (2022). Sujeet had bronze in the same championships last year and has bettered the colour of his medal this time. He won his first two bouts by technical superiority -- against Moldova's Fiodor Ceavdari (12-2) and Poland's Dominik Jakub (11-0). He was trailing against Bashir Magomedov in the quarterfinal but eventually won 4-2 to make the semifinals where he overpowered Japan's Yuto Nishiuchi 3-2 after pulling off a stunning two-point throw in the dying moments of the bout.

India's Greco-Roman wrestlers disappoint, Anil Mor falls short of bronze

India's Greco Roman wrestlers continued to disappoint at the U20 World Championships as all five in action on Saturday exited the competition, here Saturday. The only Greco Roman wrestler to win a medal at the tournament was Suraj, who pocketed a bronze in the 60kg weight class. Anil Mor was in bronze race in 55kg weight category but went down fighting 7-10 against Japan's Daisuke Morishita. With this, India's campaign ended at the Championships. The women's team had ended runner-up with seven medals while the men's freestyle team could also manage just one silver through Sumit Malik in the 57kg weight class. Gaurav (63kg) was up against Moldova's Dumitru Rapesco in the qualification round and emerged winner on criteria after the score was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time. His pre-quarterfinal also produced a 1-1 result but this time he ended up on the wrong side of the result against Azerbaijan's Tural Ahmadov. Ahmadov later lost his quarterfinal, ending Gaurav's chances

Sumit Malik storms into U20 World Wrestling Championships 2025 final

Malik will face Magomed Ozdamirov (UWW) in the title clash after the Russian-trained wrestler overcame Kazakhstan's Nurdanat Aitanov 3-1 in the other semifinal.

Vishal in hunt for freestyle bronze in U20 World Wrestling Championships

Freestyle wrestler Vishal will fight for the bronze medal after losing his 97kg freestyle semifinal bout to UWW grappler Magomedgadzhi Magomedov on the opening day of the U20 World Championships, here on Sunday. The 20-year-old Indian lost the closely-fought semifinal 9-11 and will now take on a yet-to-be-confirmed grappler in the bronze-medal bout. Vishal gave his opponent a tough fight and had the grappler, who was fighting under the United World Wrestling (UWW) flag, in all sorts of trouble before Magomedov managed to eke out a narrow win. Magomedov led 10-4 when Vishal mounted a comeback. The Indian scored a takedown and Magomedov was cautioned for a singlet foul, which made it 10-7. As the bout restarted, India appealed for two more points but the referee had already blown the whistle before the control from Vishal. That challenge gave Magomedov enough time to recover and hang on to a slender lead. Earlier in the quarterfinal, Vishal's opponent, Japan's Noah Leibowitz, pulled

SC cancels wrestler Sushil Kumar's bail in Chhatrasal Stadium murder case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar in the murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar at the Chhatrasal Stadium in the national capital A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra set aside the March 4 order of the Delhi High Court granting bail to the wrestler. The wrestler has been asked to surrender within a week. Kumar and others are accused of fatally assaulting Dhankar in May 2021 over an alleged property dispute. Two of Dhankar's friends were also injured in the assault. According to the postmortem report, Dhankar suffered cerebral damage from the impact of a blunt object.

WFI suspends 11 wrestlers for fake birth certificates after MCD probe

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has suspended 11 grapplers for submitting fake birth certificates after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) verified 110 such documents and maintained that there was no lapse on its part as 95 delayed registrations were done only on the orders of the SDM. The sport of wrestling has been grappling with two major issues: Overage wrestlers competing in lower age-group competitions and many trying to represent a state different from their domicile after procuring fake birth certificates. In some cases, the certificates have been issued as late as 12-15 years after the birth of the child. Suspecting foul play, WFI provided the MCD with a list of certificates for verification. The MCD upon verification replied to WFI that it indeed issued birth certificates but maintained that the delayed registration (registration after one year of birth) is not done directly by it but under the orders of the SDM. In several competitions, especially at the ..

World Wrestling Championship 2025: Check full list of Indian participants

The Indian squad will be spearheaded by Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat

Trump pays tribute to 'friend' Hulk Hogan, says he was 'MAGA all the way'

We lost a great friend today, the 'Hulkster.' Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way -- Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart, Trump said

WWE icon Hulk Hogan passes away at 71 after cardiac arrest in Florida

WWE, on social media, confirmed Hulk Hogan's demise and extended its condolences to the wrestler's family and friends

Visa delay worries wrestlers for U17 World Championship ahead of departure

The Indian cadet wrestling teams risk missing the prestigious U17 World Championship in Athens, beginning on July 28, as the 47-member contingent is scheduled to depart on Saturday but the Greece embassy is yet to respond to their visa appointment request. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had sought appointment on July 10 but 12 days have passed and it is yet to hear a positive response from the embassy. When nothing moved even six days after their request, WFI wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on July 16, seeking intervention. The 47-member Indian contingent has 30 wrestlers, who made the national team after coming through selection trials conducted by WFI on July 7 and 8 in Delhi and Lucknow respectively. "The Federation had to seek intervention of the MEA and the Home Ministry after its numerous requests did not receive a positive response from the Greece embassy," WFI President Sanjay Singh told PTI. "The tickets have been booked and the players are ready.

Wrestling gold medalist medalist Kyle Snyder charged in prostitution sting

Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder, one of the most successful wrestlers in U.S. history, was arrested in a prostitution sting, according to police in Columbus. Snyder, 29, was charged with engaging in prostitution after he was arrested on Friday, according to court records, which did not list an attorney for him. Messages seeking comment from Snyder were not immediately returned on Tuesday. Snyder became the youngest American wrestler to win Olympic gold at age 20 during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, and he followed that up with a silver at the Tokyo Games. He lost in the bronze-medal match at last year's Olympics in Paris. He was a three-time NCAA champion at Ohio State and has won three world championships. Just last week, the Real American Freestyle wrestling league announced it had added Snyder to it's lineup. The league, with pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan as the commissioner, is slated to hold its first event Aug. 30 in Cleveland.

Freestyle wrestlers from India struggle in Asian Championship 2025

India's men's freestyle wrestlers, except Sujeet Kalkal, struggled to cross even the first hurdle at the Asian Championships and three of them are now awaiting for the repechage route to open for them, here Saturday. In the 65kg, Sujeet was off to a flying start, beating Palestinian Abdullah Assaf by technical superiority but could not breach the defence of Japanese Kaisei Tanabe. Sujeet can still bounce back in medal contention via repechage route as Tanabe has made the title clash. Similarly, Vishal Kaliraman's fate rests in the hands of his vanquisher Tulga Tumur Ochir from Mongolia. Vishal lost his opening bout 0-8 to 2022 Asian Games gold medallist. Ochir is facing Tajikistan's Viktor Rassadin in the 65kg semifinal and if he wins, Vishal will get a chance to get back in the competition. Competing in the 57kg in the absence of Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrwat, Chirag could not score even a single point, losing his bout by technical superiority to Almaz Smanbekov. The ...

Asian Championship: Manisha inches towards gold, Antim targets bronze

Seasoned Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala kept herself in hunt for a gold medal at the Asian Championship by reaching the women's 62kg final while Antim Panghal was left to fight for bronze after losing her semifinal here on Friday. Manisha began with an easy technical superiority win over Kazakhstan's Tynys Dubek and pinned Korea's Hanbit Lee for another dominating win. The semifinal was no different as she conceded only one point to eventually win 5-1 against Kalmira Bilimbek Kyzy. Now Korea's Ok J Kim stands between Manisha and her first-ever Asian Championship title. The 20-year-old Panghal, competing in her first international event after a disappointing show at the Paris Olympics, beat China's Jin Zhang in the 53kg quarterfinal but was no match for Japan's Moe Kiyooka, who won by technical superiority. In the opening three-minute period Panghal, India's first U20 world champion, did not score any point but conceded one. In the second period she tried hard but Kiyooka was too

Brij Bhushan hails WFI ban lift, calls It justice against conspirators

Hailing Sports Ministry's decision to lift the WFI suspension, its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday said justice has been delivered as conspirators bit the dust. Suspended only three days after it conducted elections in December 24, for misgovernance, the ministry restored Wrestling Federation of India's status as an NSF after the sports body took corrective measure such as moving its office from the premises of Brij Bhushan. The country's top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had alleged that Brij Bhushan sexually exploited junior wrestlers during his tenure and staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in January 2023, demanding his arrest and a complete overhaul of WFI. The matter is still in court even as Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay Singh won the elections later that year. For a few months IOA ad-hoc panel ran the show but after UWW lifted its suspension following the conduct of elections, the committee was dissolved. "For 26 months, many ...

WFI gets NSF status back after Sports Ministry revokes suspension

The Sports Ministry on Tuesday lifted its suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), paving the way for the organisation of domestic tournaments and selection of national teams for international tournaments. The ministry had suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023 for the hasty announcement of the Under-15 (U-15) and Under-20 (U-20) National Championships. The Sanjay Singh-led panel had won the elections on December 21, 2023 but the choice of venue for National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda the stronghold of former WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh had irked the government. The ministry, in its order, said that the WFI has taken corrective measures, so it has decided to lift the suspension.

Sports Ministry revokes WFI suspension after 15 months, restores NSF status

The Sports Ministry has revoked the suspension imposed on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), ending the months of uncertainty surrounding the sport and paving the way for resumption of activities, including selection trials for the upcoming Asian Championship in Amman. The ministry had suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023 for lapses in governance and procedural integrity by the new body, which was elected on December 21. It had asked IOA to form an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of the Federation. The Sanjay Singh-led body had announced the conduct of Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda the stronghold of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the choice of venue irked the government since the former BJP MP was facing charges of sexual harassment. The ministry, in its order issued on Monday, said that the WFI has taken compliant measures, so in larger interest of the sport and athletes, the ministry has decided to lift the ...

Netflix posts biggest quarterly subscriber gain due to sports, 'Squid Game'

The company added 18.9 million customers in the fourth quarter, according to a shareholder letter Tuesday

Brawls erupt at National Wrestling Championship, matches suspended

The ongoing National Wrestling Championship in Gujranwala descended into chaos on Saturday after altercations between wrestlers spiraled into physical brawls, involving team officials and supporters in the crowd, forcing the suspension of matches for the day. The incident began with a minor dispute between Wapda's Irfan Bhola and the Higher Education Commission's Ibrahim over a referee's decision to award a point to the former. Footage of the melee at the Jinnah stadium on TV channels showed the two wrestlers arguing after the point was awarded and later they started grappling and punching each other. In a few minutes players and officials of both teams were seen going after each other as the brawls spread between supporters as well in the crowds with footage showing punches and kicks being thrown freely. An organizer said security had to be called in to control the chaotic situation and to avoid any serious injuries to anyone. The matches are suspended and will resume later, he .

Bajrang Punia accuses BJP of vindictive politics on Nada suspension

Suspended for four years due to his "refusal" to provide sample for dope test, Olympic medallist Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Wednesday said it was a vindictive move by the government which would quash the ban if he joins the BJP. NADA said Bajrang violated the rules by refusing to give sample during selection trials for the national team on March 10. The anti-doping body had first suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 for the offence following which, the sport's world governing body UWW had also slapped him with a suspension. "It is not shocking because this issue about trial has been going on for last one year. I have said in the past too that I have not refused to give sample to NADA. When they visited my home to conduct the dope test, they came with an expiry kit (in December, 2023). I have also posted this on social media," Barjrang told reporters. Punia, along with fellow wrestler and Olympian Vinesh Phogat, have joined the Congress Party earlier

Sakshi Malik's 'Witness' tells untold stories behind wrestlers' journey

In her memoir, Sakshi Malik doesn't hold back, revealing the untold parts of her story that the world missed while the cameras focused only on certain snippets