Indian Greco-Roman wrestler Lalit experienced a challenging moment in the final of the 55 kg category at the Asian Championships held in Kyrgyzstan. Although he ultimately lost, his coach, Kuldeep Singh, found a positive aspect in this outcome.
On Tuesday, the 23-year-old Lalit faced a tough opponent, two-time Asian Championships medalist Ikhtiyor Botirov, and lost the match 0-9, resulting in a silver medal—the first senior championship medal of his career. Despite the disappointment of a technical superiority defeat, this event marked a significant achievement for the wrestler from Panipat, particularly as he had previously defeated Huoying Shi of China, a medallist at the 2025 World Championships and currently ranked fourth in the world, in the semi-finals.
Coach Kuldeep expressed satisfaction with Lalit’s accomplishment of reaching the podium. He acknowledged Botirov’s experience in high-stakes finals as a critical factor in the match. “Lalit is a technically skilled wrestler, but he must enhance his strength. This experience has shown us that to achieve consistent success at the Asian level, he needs to focus on building his power. Our primary goal was to secure a podium finish, and I am delighted that he accomplished this while also delivering strong performances,” he stated in an interview with The Indian Express.
While Kuldeep recognizes Lalit as one of the few technically proficient Greco-Roman wrestlers in India, he admitted that Lalit was outperformed on this occasion. Botirov effectively executed his strategy early in the bout, gaining an advantageous position after Lalit was penalized for inactivity, which forced the Indian wrestler into a defensive position. Botirov capitalized on this opportunity, rolling Lalit over four times to secure his victory by technical superiority.
Hargobind, another coach present in Bishkek, praised Lalit’s four-year commitment to the Indian wrestling camp and highlighted his commendable performance in his first senior championships. “Although he didn’t secure the gold, his semi-final victory against a World Championships medallist was quite impressive. Lalit demonstrated great composure, particularly in the bout prior to the semi-final against Japanese wrestler Mizuki Araki. Despite an early setback, he managed to stage a comeback, which bodes well for his future in senior competitions,” he remarked.
Lalit’s journey to the Asian podium has not been easy. He faced personal challenges early in life, having lost his mother, and did not receive support from his father in pursuing wrestling. He was taken under the wing of Vijay Gahlawat, a fellow Greco-Roman wrestler who became a mentor and a part of his chosen family. Despite the final loss, Vijay was overwhelmed with pride. “I can’t express how happy I am. Winning a medal at the Asian level while representing India is a significant achievement,” he said. “We will be there to welcome him at the airport on the 10th, and there will definitely be celebrations.”
Other Indian medalists included Sunil Kumar in the 87kg Greco-Roman category.
Pritish Raj is part of the sports team at The Indian Express and is based in New Delhi.
