Indian women's wrestling had a landmark night in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Kajal Dhochak in the 76kg category and Neelam Sirohi in the 50kg category both won silver medals at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, becoming the first two Indian women to reach world finals at the same edition.
Both lost their gold-medal bouts, Neelam to Japanese great Yui Susaki and Kajal to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, but their runs have lifted a programme that has been searching for new stars.
Key results
| Wrestler | Result |
|---|---|
| Neelam Sirohi (50kg) | Silver; lost final to Yui Susaki (Japan) by fall |
| Neelam's semi-final | Beat Zeinep Bayanova (Kazakhstan) 7-3 |
| Kajal Dhochak (76kg) | Silver; lost final 4-8 to Anastasiya Alpyeyeva (Ukraine) |
| Kajal's semi-final | Beat Aiperi Medet Kyzy (Kyrgyzstan) 10-7 after trailing 1-7 |
| Rajnita (65kg) | Lost 2-6 in repechage to Nana Ikehata (Japan) |
| Venue | Astana, Kazakhstan |
Kajal's heartbreak after a stunning semi-final
Only 18 and a two-time U20 world champion, Kajal had already produced the comeback of the tournament in the semi-finals, recovering from 1-7 down against Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy to win 10-7. In the final, she matched Alpyeyeva move for move and was ahead on criteria at 4-4 with about 35 seconds left on the clock. The Ukrainian then struck with two quick two-point moves to take the bout 8-4 and the gold.
It was a painful way to lose a world final, but a medal in the heavyweight 76kg class at her age marks Kajal as one of India's brightest prospects heading into the next Olympic cycle.
Neelam runs into Yui Susaki
Neelam's path to the 50kg final ended with a solid 7-3 win over home favourite Zeinep Bayanova of Kazakhstan. In the final she faced Yui Susaki, the Japanese wrestler who has dominated the lightest weight class for years and is an Olympic and multiple-time world champion. Susaki pinned Neelam shortly before the end of the first period, but reaching that final was itself a big statement from the Indian.
Who are Kajal and Neelam?
Kajal Dhochak has been tipped as a future star since her junior days, when she became a two-time U20 world champion. Her ability to come back from big deficits, shown again in Astana, has been a feature of her rise. Neelam Sirohi competes in the 50kg class, one of the most competitive divisions in women's wrestling and the one where India has a long tradition of strong performers. Reaching the world final in that weight, and beating a home favourite in the semi-final, underlines how far she has come at the senior level.
Both wrestlers will now be central to India's plans for the coming season, with the Asian Championships and Olympic qualification events on the horizon.
Why these medals matter
Before this edition, Anshu Malik was the only Indian woman to have reached a senior world final, winning silver in the 57kg class at Oslo in 2021. Kajal and Neelam now join her, which means India's tally of women world finalists has gone from one to three in a single evening.
The results also come at a time when Indian wrestling is trying to rebuild after years of administrative turmoil and the retirement or absence of several established names. Two young wrestlers reaching finals at the same championship suggests the pipeline from the junior level is starting to deliver.
What it means for Indian sport
For fans, the medals add to a strong month for Indian athletes after the record haul at the Asian Para Games and PV Sindhu's run to the French Open final. For the wrestling federation and coaches, they offer a clear base to build on: Kajal's age and Neelam's consistency in a tough weight class give India realistic medal hopes at the next Asian Games and Olympic qualification events.
What happens next
The championships continue in Astana, with the women's 55kg and 59kg categories and the repechage rounds in 68kg and 72kg scheduled next, where more Indian wrestlers will be in action. The men's freestyle and Greco-Roman events will follow.
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