India’s Sujiit Kalkal Advances to 65kg Freestyle Final After Stunning Victory

Nagoya, 2 October – In a match that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, Indian freestyle wrestler Sujiit Kalkal secured a place in the men’s 65 kg final at the Asian Championships by defeating Japan’s current Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyuka. The bout began with Kiyuka taking a 2‑0 lead, but Kalkal’s aggressive style soon turned the tables. He executed a series of high‑scoring techniques, including a four‑point throw and two exposure points, to bring the score to 3‑3. Because Kalkal accumulated more scoring moves, the tie‑breaker awarded him the win.

Kalkal entered the competition as the under‑23 world champion, and his early matches reflected that pedigree. He opened with a 13‑3 technical superiority over Afghanistan’s Saeed Umar Jazaei, followed by a flawless 10‑0 shut‑out of Abbas Ibrahimzadeh. These performances built momentum that carried him into the semifinal against the Japanese favorite.

The final now pits Kalkal against Tajikistan’s Abdulmajid Kudiyev, setting up a compelling clash for the gold medal. India’s other wrestlers experienced mixed fortunes: Rohal fell 3‑8 to Kazakhstan’s Yedige Kasimbek in the 125 kg category, while the women’s team saw early defeats for Priya Malik and Deepanshi (50 kg). Japan’s Yuhi Susaki, a four‑time Asian champion, continued her dominance with an 11‑0 win over Deepanshi and a swift 10‑0 victory over Cambodia’s Samnang Dit, advancing to the women’s final.

Kalkal’s triumph over an Olympic champion highlights the rising standards of Indian wrestling and adds a new chapter to the nation’s growing success on the Asian stage.