Indian wrestlers Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi created history at the World Championships on Wednesday, clinching silver medals in their respective weight categories after finishing as runners-up in the finals. Their podium finishes marked a significant milestone for Indian women’s wrestling, with two Indian women reaching the gold medal bouts at the same edition of the prestigious tournament for the first time.
In the 76kg title clash, 18-year-old Kajal faced Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Making her senior World Championships debut after winning two U20 world titles, the young Indian put up a spirited fight against her Ukrainian opponent. However, despite a determined effort, Kajal went down 6-8 in a closely contested final to settle for the silver medal.
Kajal’s performance capped an impressive campaign in which she demonstrated remarkable fighting spirit and resilience. Her standout moment came in the semifinals, where she staged a stunning comeback against Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy. Trailing 1-7, Kajal fought her way back into the contest to secure a memorable 10-7 victory and book her place in the final.
Meanwhile, Neelam Sirohi competed in the 50kg final against Japan’s Yui Susaki, a four-time world champion and one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the category. Neelam faced a formidable challenge against the Japanese star and eventually lost by fall after trailing 0-5, finishing her campaign with a silver medal.
The 26-year-old had produced a strong performance in the semifinals to earn her place in the gold medal bout. Neelam defeated Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova 7-3, displaying composure and control to secure a historic final berth.
The two silver medals represent a landmark moment for Indian wrestling. While Anshu Malik became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final in 2021, Kajal and Neelam’s achievements took the country’s women’s wrestling campaign a step further, with two Indian wrestlers competing for gold at the same edition.
Elsewhere, Rajnita’s campaign in the women’s 65kg category came to an end in the repechage round. She suffered a 2-6 defeat against Japan’s Nana Ikehata, missing out on an opportunity to advance to the bronze medal match.
With Kajal and Neelam securing silver medals, India’s campaign in the women’s competition has delivered a historic result. The final day of women’s wrestling at the World Championships will take place on Thursday, October 29, with the remaining two weight categories, 55kg and 59kg, set to be decided.
