Asian Games: Wrestling: Sujeet Kalkal beats Kudiyev 10-9 for 65kg gold

Sujeet Kalkal staged a stunning late comeback from 2-9 down to defeat Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiyev 10-9 and win India’s first wrestling gold at the Asian Games 2026. Earlier, he beat Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the 65kg semifinal

Nishio: Sujeet Kalkal ended India’s wait for a wrestling gold at the Asian Games 2026 with a stunning comeback victory in the men’s freestyle 65kg category, overcoming Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiyev 10-9 in a dramatic final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center on Friday.

For most of the match, the 23-year-old Indian was trailing 2-9 before pulling off a remarkable late rally by scoring eight consecutive points to overturn the deficit and secure India’s first wrestling gold at the Games.

Kalkal’s triumph capped an impressive run in Aichi-Nagoya, during which he had already beaten Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan and overcome tough opponents from Iran and Afghanistan on his way to the final.

The Indian wrestler began his campaign against Afghanistan’s Sayed Omar Zazai and suffered an early setback after falling 0-3 behind. Kalkal then changed the course of the match by scoring a push-out and a shoulder throw to take a 5-3 lead.

He then scored four additional points with another throw and a roll, securing a 13-3 technical superiority win and progressing to the quarterfinals.

Kalkal then produced a clinical performance against Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi and won by technical superiority without conceding a single point.

The semifinal against Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka was his biggest challenge. Although Kalkal trailed 0-2 at the end of the first period, he recovered in the second by scoring three points while Kiyooka managed one.

The bout ended in a 3-3 draw, but Kalkal was declared the winner on criteria after scoring the bigger move, securing his place in the final against Kudiyev.

The Tajik wrestler appeared to be within touching distance of gold after establishing a 9-2 lead, but Kalkal refused to give in and mounted a stunning comeback in the closing stages.

He scored eight points in succession to overturn the deficit and secure a memorable 10-9 victory, winning his first Asian Games gold medal in dramatic fashion.