Worlds Wrestling Update: Sujeet Falls, Manisha Reaches Semis

Thursday brought mixed results for India at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana. Sujeet Kalkal's run in the men's 65kg freestyle ended in a narrow quarterfinal defeat, while Manisha secured her semifinal spot in the women's 69kg category.

Sujeet, the Asian Games champion, lost 3-3 to Tajikistan's Abdulmajid Kudiev on criteria. Sujeet had led 3-1 but attempted a takedown from behind, which Kudiev countered by grabbing his heel and scoring a takedown. The level score sent the bout to the criteria rules, which favoured Kudiev.

The two had previously met at the Asian Games, where Sujeet overturned a 2-9 deficit to win gold. This year's meeting was their third, following a 7-2 Sujeet win in the Asian Championships 2026 semifinal, after which he claimed the continental title.

At 97kg, Vicky Hooda lost 2-12 to Japan's Arash Yoshida in his quarterfinal by technical superiority. Yoshida controlled the match with step-outs and takedowns and added four points after countering a move. Vicky scored two points, but the bout was never in doubt.

Sujeet and Vicky both remain in contention through the repechage round, provided their quarterfinal opponents make it to the final.

Manisha's campaign continued with a 6-0 win over Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhu. She pushed her opponent out of bounds twice and took her down twice. She had earlier beaten Canada's Laurence Beauregard 6-2 in the quarterfinal.