Sujeet Kalkal delivered an exceptional performance by defeating Kotaro Kiyooka, the current Olympic champion from Japan, in the semi-finals of the men’s freestyle 65 kg category at the 2026 Asian Games. This victory not only secures him a medal but also propels him into the finals.
The match was characterized by a high level of technical skill, with both competitors showcasing strong defensive tactics throughout. The bout concluded with a tie at 3-3, but Kalkal emerged victorious based on tiebreak criteria.
“Sujeet demonstrated great composure, especially as the Japanese wrestler intensified his attacks in the final moments of the match. I believe this victory is the pinnacle of his career thus far,” remarked his coach Kuldeep Singh Sehrawat in an interview with The Indian Express from Japan.
Entering the Asian Games with high expectations as one of India’s leading medal contenders in wrestling, Sujeet successfully triumphed in three consecutive matches to secure his place in the finals.
This win offers Sujeet the opportunity to reclaim the gold medal in the 65 kg category for India, which was lost during the 2022 Games. Yogeshwar Dutt had previously won gold in this category in 2014, followed by Bajrang Punia, who secured another gold four years later. However, Bajrang did not achieve a podium finish at the 2023 Asian Games.
In the final, Sujeet will compete against Abdulmazhid Kudiev from Tajikistan. The two had previously met in the semi-finals of the Asian Championships earlier this year, where Sujeet triumphed with a score of 7-2 and aims to replicate that success in today’s match.
In his opening bout against Omar Zazai from Afghanistan, Sujeet faced a shaky start, quickly falling behind 0-3. Nevertheless, he swiftly regained control, racking up 13 points to secure a decisive 13-3 victory.
His quarter-final match against Abbas Ebrahimzadehssavadkouhi of Iran was equally impressive, as Sujeet won decisively with a score of 10-0, demonstrating technical superiority.
Currently, Sujeet Kalkal, the reigning U23 World Champion, is regarded as one of the top wrestlers in the world within the 65 kg category and holds the second position in the global rankings, just behind Iranian star Rahman Amouzadkhalili.
