Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal, recently crowned the Asian champion in the men’s freestyle 65kg division, has ascended to the top of the rankings as the world number one, according to the latest updates from United World Wrestling released on Friday.
The 23-year-old, who also holds the title of U23 World Champion, surpassed notable competitors including Iran’s World Champion Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili and Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka from Japan in the standings.
Sujeet secured his place at the pinnacle of the rankings after achieving an impressive 8-1 victory against Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov, last year’s World Championship bronze medalist, in the final match of the Asian Wrestling Championships. This victory marked India’s first men’s freestyle gold at the 65kg weight class since 2019, breaking a seven-year drought in a category known for its depth and competitiveness. Additionally, it ended a three-year period without a gold medal for Indian men’s freestyle wrestling at the Asian Championships. Since 2015, India has only seen two golds in this category, both won by Bajrang Punia, who later earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Winning or losing isn’t something I can control,” Sujeet commented to UWW. “However, it is essential for me to give my utmost effort, and I did just that. I was very confident about clinching the gold medal.”
After a somewhat disappointing performance at last year’s World Championships, Sujeet made a remarkable comeback by claiming the U23 title. He has started the current season strong, achieving ten victories across three tournaments without suffering a loss, accumulating 96 points in ten matches.
Although he has shown late blooming tendencies, Sujeet has been involved in wrestling since childhood, accompanying his father to the akhara. It was only five years ago that he committed seriously to the sport, having initially focused on academics. Scoring over 90 percent in his Class 12 exams, he once dreamed of becoming an engineer. However, when faced with the choice between pursuing higher education and dedicating himself to wrestling, he opted to follow his passion, inspired by his father’s legacy.
India has a storied history in the 65-66 kg category, with renowned wrestlers like Sushil Kumar and Bajrang Punia achieving significant success, winning multiple World Championship and Olympic medals. Sujeet, hailing from Haryana, is regarded as a promising talent in the Indian wrestling scene as the nation prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
