From historic world gold to Olympic dreams, Manisha Bhanwala targets next milestone

World champion Manisha Bhanwala is targeting Olympic qualification as she prepares for Pro Wrestling League Season 6 in Delhi. She credits the league's intense competition and exposure to international champions for strengthening her mindset and sharpening her skills

Hyderabad: Fresh from scripting history in Astana as the first Indian woman to win gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, Manisha Bhanwala has set her sights on the mat once again with Season 6 of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL).

Having previously represented the Maharashtra Kesari franchise alongside several international champions, the 29-year-old grappler reflected on her journey, crediting her relentless work ethic and the high-octane league with shaping her championship mindset.

---

Opening up about the heartbreak of missing out on a podium finish at the Asian Games just weeks before the World Championships, Manisha revealed how sheer frustration drove her to hit the training mat immediately upon landing in India.

“After that quarterfinal bout in the Asian Games against Japan’s Akari, I was filled with frustration because I knew how much work I had put in,” said Manisha. “I landed in India on a Monday morning and was back at the training hall by evening. My coach told me to rest and focus on recovery, but I asked him, ‘Did I win a medal that I should sit back and recover?’ In those ten days between the Asian Games and the World Championships, I pushed myself without stopping. I knew I could not sit peacefully until I achieved what I set out to do.”

That mental discipline carried directly into the World Championship final, where Manisha relied on the high-pressure lessons learned from the fast-paced schedule of the PWL.

“In traditional tournaments, you get weeks between events, but the Pro Wrestling League throws you straight into the fire,” explained Manisha. “You wrestle a world-class bout today and have to reset your mindset immediately for another one tomorrow. That routine taught me to control my emotions and stay calm. When I made the world final in Astana, I put my phone away and conserved all my nervous energy, just like we do during back-to-back league ties.”

Manisha also highlighted how training alongside global medallists in the PWL removed the psychological barrier of facing foreign competitors on international mats.

“Earlier, you only saw foreign champions across the mat at international events, which created a bit of hesitation,” she said. “In the PWL, you share the locker room and training mats with them. I spent weeks sparring and analysing holds with world champions like Bilyana Dudova and top wrestlers from Armenia. Once you train together daily, you realise they are human too. It gave me the conviction that Indian wrestlers can dominate on any stage.”

Known for her aggressive, unorthodox style, Manisha views PWL Season 6 as the ideal platform to test her skills before moving into the Olympic 57kg division.

“My coaches often joke that my attacks do not even have official names because of my attacking style,” Manisha added. “Season 6 in Delhi is happening at the perfect time because the Olympic qualifiers begin next year. Real match practice under bright lights against elite foreign opponents will give me the sharpness I need to earn that Olympic quota.”

“Many people still assume wrestling is only about raw muscle or mud pits, but it is a game of microseconds where your brain has to work faster than your limbs,” she concluded. “The PWL brings that speed and strategy to television, showing everyone just how modern and technical our sport is.”