Sujeet Kalkal, a 23-year-old freestyle wrestler from Imlota village in Haryana, won the gold medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He defeated Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 in the final on 2 October 2026 after trailing 2-9 with 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining.
Freestyle Wrestling at the Asian Games
Freestyle wrestling is one of the two Olympic wrestling styles, the other being Greco-Roman wrestling. In freestyle wrestling, competitors may use their legs for attack and defence, and points are awarded for takedowns, exposure, reversals, and penalties.
Men’s 65kg Weight Class
The men’s 65kg category is a recognised international weight class in freestyle wrestling. It has featured in major multi-sport events and world-level competitions, including the Asian Games, World Championships, and age-group championships.
Indian Wrestling at Asian Games
Sujeet Kalkal’s gold was India’s first wrestling gold at the Asian Games since 2018. The 65kg weight class had earlier produced Asian Games gold medallists Yogeshwar Dutt in 2014 and Bajrang Punia in 2018.
Important Facts for Exams
- Sujeet Kalkal defeated Japan’s Kotaro Kiyooka, the reigning Olympic champion, in the semi-finals.
- Sujeet Kalkal was born on 5 November 2002 and began wrestling at a local akhada in Imlota.
- Dayanand Kalkal, his father, was a former national-level wrestler and his first coach.
- His earlier titles include the 2026 Senior Asian Championship and the 2025 World Under-23 title.
Haryana athletes won four gold medals at the Asian Games on 2 October 2026. The Asian Games are a continental multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia.
