Sujeet Kalkal attracted significant attention as he traveled to Aichi Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games, being heralded as a top contender for a medal—his chances regarded as more promising than those of Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat.
Such high expectations were well-founded. Currently ranked second in the world for men’s wrestling in the 65 kg category, Sujeet has remained undefeated this season. He was on a quest to reclaim a medal that India had secured in 2014 and 2018 before it was claimed by Mongolia in 2022.
In a thrilling finale, Sujeet executed a last-minute takedown against Abdulmazhid Kudiev from Tajikistan, clinching a 10-9 victory. This triumph not only fulfilled the anticipations surrounding him but also ended an eight-year gold medal drought for India at the Asian Games, restoring the 65 kg title to the nation and continuing the legacy established by Yogeshwar Dutt (gold in 2014) and Bajrang Punia (gold in 2018).
“I expected nothing less than a gold medal. I told him before he left for Japan and repeated it today: you are here to win gold. He has truly delivered on the promise he has shown over the past two years,” remarked his coach, Kuldeep Singh Sehrawat, in an interview with The Indian Express.
Despite the immense pressure that accompanies major competitions, Sujeet maintained his composure throughout the match, overcoming a challenging 2-9 deficit in the initial half of the final bout to secure the gold medal.
As Sujeet faced a daunting score of 2-9, both his coach Kuldeep, watching from the stands, and his father, Dayanand Kalkal, following the match from their home in Imlota, Haryana, felt the weight of the moment. Kudiev capitalized on his superior ground wrestling and leg attacks to quickly accumulate points. However, Sujeet was able to reverse the tide with remarkable agility.
As the match progressed, the tension transformed into joy when Sujeet executed four successful takedowns.
The final bout and Sujeet’s comeback were nothing short of a spectacle.
Upon entering the mat, he was met with enthusiastic cheers from the Indian delegation. However, the Indian supporters were taken aback as Kudiev skillfully countered Sujeet’s moves, gaining a 9-2 lead after the first round.
In stark contrast, the second half showcased Sujeet’s determination. He launched four successful takedowns, displaying both speed and strategic thinking that caught Kudiev off guard. He quickly maneuvered behind his opponent to secure a takedown, followed by a successful right-leg attack. As Kudiev began to tire, Sujeet capitalized on his speed to narrow the score to 8-9. With under 30 seconds remaining, Sujeet executed a decisive move, seizing Kudiev’s left leg to complete the takedown and finalize the score at 10-9.
Before even reaching the final, Sujeet had already made headlines by defeating reigning Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semi-finals, a match held in front of Kiyooka’s home crowd. This bout proved to be a tactical showdown between two elite wrestlers and ended with a tie of 3-3, with Sujeet winning based on technical criteria.
This victory marks a significant achievement for the 23-year-old, who has set his sights on the 2026 World Championships. Kuldeep’s reaction aptly encapsulated Sujeet’s remarkable journey to the gold medal: “I had confidence that he would defeat both Iranian and Japanese wrestlers, but I never imagined he would accomplish that within just 27 minutes,” he chuckled.
Pritish Raj is a member of the sports team at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi.
