India’s Sujeet Kalkal etched his name in history by clinching the gold medal in the Men’s Freestyle 65kg category at the U-23 World Wrestling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia. The 22-year-old wrestler delivered a commanding performance, defeating Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov by technical superiority (10-0) in a decisive final bout that concluded in under five minutes.

This victory makes Kalkal only the fourth Indian male wrestler to win a gold medal at the U-23 World Championships, joining an elite group that includes Aman Sehrawat and Chirag Chikkara. It also marks India’s first-ever gold in the highly competitive 65kg freestyle division at this age-group event.

Kalkal’s journey to the top podium was characterized by impressive comebacks and technical mastery, especially considering he was battling shoulder and back niggles leading up to the tournament.

• Final Showdown: Kalkal completely dominated his final opponent, Jalolov (a senior World Championships bronze medallist), securing the win via technical superiority—a demonstration of overwhelming point advantage.
• Thrilling Semifinal: Perhaps the most dramatic moment came in the semifinals where Kalkal staged a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory against Japan’s Yuto Nishiuchi, scoring a crucial two-point throw in the dying seconds of the bout.
• Road to Gold: He also overcame UWW’s Bashir Magomedov 4-2 in the quarterfinals, showcasing his strategic wrestling style.

This championship represents a significant step up for Kalkal, who had secured a bronze medal in the same division at the previous edition of the U-23 Worlds.

Kalkal’s gold capped off a successful campaign for the Indian contingent, which finished with a total of nine medals: one gold, two silvers, and six bronze medals. The women’s wrestling team performed exceptionally well, securing the team championship title with their medal haul, which included silvers for Sarika (59kg) and Hansika Lamba (53kg).

Kalkal, who already holds U-23 Asian titles (2022, 2025) and a U-20 Asian Championship gold (2022), now sets his sights on upcoming senior events like the Asian Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, acknowledging the need to build more strength and stamina.