Kajal and Neelam Reach Historic World Wrestling Finals

Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi created a landmark moment for Indian wrestling in Astana on Tuesday, advancing to the World Championships finals and giving the country two women competing for gold at the same edition for the first time.

Kajal will contest the 76kg title against Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, while Neelam is set to face Japan’s Yui Susaki in the 50kg final. Their progress gives Indian women’s wrestling an opportunity to claim a first world title after a historic day in the competition.

The achievement builds on the breakthrough made by Anshu Malik in 2021, when she became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final and went on to win silver. Kajal and Neelam have now taken that progress a step further by reaching separate gold-medal bouts in the same championships.

Kajal overturns deficit on senior World Championships debut

Eighteen-year-old Kajal reached the final in her senior World Championships debut after producing a comeback victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy in the semifinals. Kajal recovered from a 1-7 deficit to win 10-7 and secure her place in the 76kg title match.

Her run to the semifinals included victories over Lithuania’s Kamile Griskiene Gaucaite and Mongolia’s Davaanasan Enkh Amar. The final will present another major test as she meets Alpyeyeva with the world title at stake.

The result marks another significant step in Kajal’s transition to senior wrestling. Before arriving at the World Championships, she had already won two U20 world titles, and her semifinal comeback ensured that her first senior World Championships appearance will end with a medal.

Neelam, 26, booked her own place in the final with a 7-3 semifinal win over Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova. She had opened her campaign by defeating Belarus’ Natallia Varakina 6-0, before advancing through the quarterfinals after Russia’s Elizaveta Smirnova withdrew through injury.

Neelam will now meet Susaki in the 50kg final. Her sequence of results has placed her among the medal winners and ensured that India will have finalists in both the 50kg and 76kg women’s categories.

Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh described the dual final qualification as a proud moment for the sport. “Having two Indian women in the World Championships finals is a proud moment for Indian wrestling. Kajal’s comeback showed tremendous belief and courage, while Neelam’s performance reflected her preparation and composure. Their success is a credit to the wrestlers, their coaches and everyone supporting them,” he said.

India still has a bronze-medal route in 65kg

Elsewhere in the Indian contingent, Rajnita remains in contention for bronze in the 65kg category and will face Japan’s Nana Ikehata in repechage. Her campaign included an 8-6 victory against 2024 world silver medallist Kateryna Zelenykh before she was beaten by Moldova’s Irina Ringaci.

Neha Sharma exited the 57kg competition in the round of 16, while India’s Greco-Roman campaign ended without a medal. Even so, the presence of Kajal and Neelam in the finals has made the Astana championships a defining edition for Indian women’s wrestling.

With two gold-medal matches still to come, Kajal and Neelam have the chance to turn a first-of-its-kind finals appearance into an even bigger milestone for India at the World Championships.