Sujeet Kalkal Wins Gold for India at U23 World Championships

Novi Sad, Serbia: India’s Sujeet Kalkal made the country proud by winning the gold medal in the 65 kg freestyle category at the U23 World Wrestling Championships. His victory marked India’s first gold medal in the men’s category at this year’s tournament.

Sujeet displayed exceptional performance throughout the competition. In the final bout, he defeated Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov with a dominant 10-0 technical superiority. His win came as a major highlight for the Indian contingent, especially after he had to settle for bronze in the previous edition.

This victory also added to his growing list of achievements. Sujeet has previously won the U23 Asian title twice, in 2022 and 2025, establishing himself as one of India’s most promising wrestlers in the freestyle category.

Earlier in the tournament, Sujeet began with an impressive 12-2 win over Moldovan wrestler Fiodor Ceavdari. He continued his winning streak by defeating Poland’s Dominik Jakub 11-0 in the second round. In the quarterfinals, he overcame a tough challenge from Bashir Magomedov with a 4-2 win. Sujeet then fought a close semi-final match against Japan’s Yuto Nishiuchi, winning 3-2 to secure his place in the final.

While Sujeet was the only medalist for India in the men’s division, the Indian women’s team made a strong statement by winning the overall championship title. The women wrestlers secured a total of seven medals — five bronze and two silver — showcasing India’s strength in the sport.

Despite tough competition, Sujeet’s focus and determination stood out. His victory not only earned him individual glory but also brought pride to Indian wrestling on the global stage.

With this win, Sujeet Kalkal joins the ranks of India’s emerging wrestling champions and serves as an inspiration for young athletes across the nation.