World Wrestling Championships 2026: India Finish 7th with Four Medals as Manisha Bhanwala Creates History

India delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, finishing seventh in the overall medal standings with four medals, including one gold, two silver and one bronze. The country's entire medal collection came from women's wrestling, underlining the growing strength of Indian women wrestlers on the international stage.

The highlight of India's campaign was Manisha Bhanwala's historic gold medal in the women's 59kg category. With her triumph, Manisha became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, creating a landmark moment for Indian wrestling.

Manisha Bhanwala Makes History with Historic Gold

Manisha Bhanwala produced a remarkable performance in the 59kg final against American wrestler Abigail Elizabeth Nette.
Trailing 0-6 at one stage, the Indian wrestler staged a sensational comeback to register an 8-6 victory and secure the gold medal.

Her fighting spirit and tactical determination helped her overcome a difficult situation and bring home India's historic women's wrestling world title.

The achievement also made Manisha only the second Indian wrestler, after Sushil Kumar, to win a Senior World Championships gold medal.

Four Medals for India's Women's Wrestling Team

India's women's wrestling contingent accounted for all four medals at the championships, with three different wrestlers joining Manisha on the podium.

The Indian medal winners were:
Gold: Manisha Bhanwala – Women's 59kg
Silver: Neelam Sirohi – Women's 50kg
Silver: Kajal Dhochak – Women's 76kg
Bronze: Tanu Sharma – Women's 72kg
Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak delivered strong campaigns to reach their respective finals, eventually finishing with silver medals. Tanu Sharma added another podium finish by securing bronze in the 72kg category.

India's four-medal performance surpassed its previous best in women's wrestling at the World Championships, which was one silver and one bronze in 2021.

India Finish Seventh in Overall Medal Standings

With four medals, India secured seventh position in the overall medal table, finishing behind the leading wrestling nations.
India's medal tally comprised:
Gold: 1
Silver: 2
Bronze: 1
Total: 4

The United States topped the medal standings with 15 medals, followed by Iran with 15 medals and Russia with 14. Japan finished fourth, while China and Azerbaijan occupied fifth and sixth positions respectively.

Final Team Rankings: Three Wrestling Disciplines

India's performances across the three disciplines produced contrasting results.
India's final team rankings:
Men's Freestyle: 12th
Men's Greco-Roman: 22nd
Women's Wrestling: 5th

The women's team delivered India's strongest performance, securing fifth position in the team rankings. The men's freestyle contingent finished 12th, while the men's Greco-Roman team occupied 22nd position.

A Landmark Campaign for Indian Wrestling

The 2026 World Wrestling Championships will be remembered as a significant milestone for Indian women's wrestling. Manisha Bhanwala's historic gold, supported by the silver medals from Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak and Tanu Sharma's bronze, showcased India's growing competitiveness at the highest level of the sport.

While the men's teams will look to improve their performances in future international competitions, the women's contingent has provided a major boost to Indian wrestling.

India's seventh-place finish in the overall medal standings, combined with a fifth-place finish in women's wrestling, represents an encouraging achievement and offers fresh inspiration for the next generation of Indian wrestlers.