India’s Wrestling Squad Shines in Budapest, Lamba Takes Silver, Rajat Claims Bronze Walkover

Budapest’s Ranking Series on July 17 highlighted India’s presence on the freestyle mat. In the women’s 55 kg category, Hansika Lamba earned a silver medal after a 0‑5 loss to Ukraine’s Natalia Kleivchutska in the final. Lamba’s tournament featured an 8‑4 quarter‑final win over Turkey’s Tuba Demir and a resilient 10‑7 semi‑final comeback against Germany’s Anastasia Blevas, where she rallied from a 2‑7 deficit with four decisive takedowns.

The 50 kg women’s division saw Priyanshi Prajapat fight through repêchage to reach the bronze medal match, where she was defeated 4‑2 by Ecuador’s Jacqueline Molokana. Prajapat’s campaign began with a fall victory over Pan‑American champion America Ki Gomez but she encountered a technical‑superiority loss to China’s Feng Jiqi in the quarter‑finals.

On the men’s side, 125 kg wrestler Rajat Ruhal secured a bronze medal by walk‑over when U.S. opponent Mason Paris withdrew due to injury. Rajat had earlier lost to Poland’s Kamila Kosiolek in the quarter‑finals, then rebounded with an 8‑4 repêchage triumph over South Korea’s Gwanuk Kim.

Other Indian wrestlers – Dinesh Dhanak, Punit Kumar (92 kg) and Olympian Deepak Poonia (97 kg) – exited in early rounds. The cumulative medal count for India at the Budapest Ranking Series stands at five, complementing prior achievements that include Aman Sahrawat’s gold in the men’s 57 kg category and bronze medals for Deepak (61 kg) and Vishal Kaliraman (65 kg).