18-Year-Old Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi Script History at World Wrestling Championships
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Indian wrestling achieved a historic double milestone at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana as teenage prodigy Kajal Dhochak and seasoned grappler Neelam Sirohi clinched silver medals in their respective weight divisions. Demonstrating elite tactical prowess and exceptional physical endurance on the international mat, both athletes advanced to the gold-medal bouts of the premier tournament. While both grapplers narrowly fell short of claiming top podium finishes against formidable international opponents, their dual silver sweep marks one of the most remarkable collective outings for Indian women's wrestling on the global stage.
Neelam Sirohi Takes 50kg Silver: Becomes Second Indian Woman World Finalist After Anshu Malik
Competing in the ultra-competitive women's 50kg category, Neelam Sirohi delivered a career-defining campaign:
Stellar Semi-Final Triumph: Neelam sealed her spot in the summit clash with a composed, tactically superior 7-3 victory over Kazakhstan’s home favorite Zeynep Bayanova, ensuring India’s first finalist of the tournament.
Clash Against Legend Yui Susaki: In the gold medal decider, Neelam faced reigning Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and Japanese wrestling titan Yui Susaki, who secured her fifth world crown via fall late in the opening round without conceding a point throughout her campaign.
Joining Elite Record Books: With this silver finish, Neelam etched her name alongside Anshu Malik—who won silver in the 57kg division at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo—becoming only the second Indian woman grappler to reach the World Championship finals.
18-Year-Old Kajal Dhochak's Breakthrough: India’s First-Ever World Heavyweight Medal
In the marquee 76kg heavyweight division, 18-year-old Kajal Dhochak broke barriers to announce her arrival among the global wrestling elite:
Pulsating Summit Clash: Battling for gold on Wednesday, Kajal pushed her opponent to the limit, locking the high-stakes final in a gripping 4-4 tie during the second period.
Heartbreak in Final Thirty Seconds: The teenage sensation conceded four crucial points in the dying 30 seconds of the bout, settling for a commendable silver medal.
Pioneering Heavyweight Milestone: Despite missing the gold by narrow margins, Kajal scripted history by becoming the first Indian wrestler ever to capture a World Championship medal in the women's 76kg heavyweight division.
Bright Horizon for Indian Wrestling: The dual podium finish underscores the depth of emerging wrestling talent across India, setting a powerful benchmark ahead of upcoming international championships and Olympic cycles.
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