Sujeet Kalkal Wins Asian Games Wrestling Gold in Men’s 65kg

Sujeet Kalkal clinched the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in a dramatic final in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

I extend my warmest congratulations to Sujeet Kalkal on winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s 65kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the Asian Games 2026.

You held your nerve when it mattered most and turned the final into a memorable triumph on the mat. You have brought immense pride…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 2, 2026

Kalkal produced a stunning late comeback after trailing 2-9, turning the contest around in the closing stages to secure a remarkable 10-9 victory and the Asian Games title.

The Indian wrestler maintained his composure under immense pressure and produced a series of crucial takedowns to close the gap. With the contest entering its final moments, Kalkal completed the turnaround to move ahead 10-9 and hold on for the gold medal.

The victory marks India’s first wrestling gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games and continues the country’s strong legacy in the men’s 65kg category.

Kalkal had earlier produced another major performance in the semifinals, defeating reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in a 3-3 bout on criteria to reach the final.

Men’s Freestyle 65kg Wrestling Podium

Kiyooka secured one of the bronze medals after defeating Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 3-2, while Kyrgyzstan’s Nachyn Kuular won the other bronze by defeating Kim Kwang Jin of South Korea 7-5.

A Dramatic Gold-Medal Comeback

The final appeared to be slipping away from Kalkal when Kudiev established a substantial 9-2 advantage. However, the Indian wrestler responded with an extraordinary late surge, repeatedly finding takedowns and steadily reducing the deficit.

Indian wrestler grabs the gold🥇
Applause to Sujeet Kalkal for winning the Men’s Freestyle 65 kg event at the #AsianGames2026. A power-packed performance that showed your strength and skill throughout the contest, making the nation swell with pride.
Well done. pic.twitter.com/KB5gaiLT4P

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 2, 2026

Kalkal’s final burst changed the complexion of the contest completely. His ability to remain aggressive and composed until the final seconds allowed him to overturn the seven-point deficit and win 10-9.

The gold medal caps a remarkable campaign for Kalkal, who overcame Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai, Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi and Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka before facing Kudiev in the final.