Wrestling Worlds: 18-year-old Kajal wins silver, Neelam goes down to Yui Susaki

Kajal Dhochak, 18, added a senior World Championships silver to her two U20 world titles. She became India's first female heavyweight medalist at the Worlds. Neelam Sirohi, 26, claimed her maiden world medal after years of perseverance on the international circuit.18-year-old Kajal Dhochak won silver in women's 76kg category in Astana World Championships 2026 (UWW Photo)New Delhi,Oct 28, 2026 21:18 ISTIndian wrestlers Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi concluded their historic run at the World Championships on Wednesday, returning with two silver medals after losing their respective final bouts in Astana, Kazakhstan.In the 76kg title clash, 18-year-old Kajal Dhochak took on Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Making her senior World Championships debut after winning two consecutive U20 world titles, Kajal came agonisingly close to gold, conceding a four-point sequence in the final 30 seconds to lose 6-8. The bout was finely poised at 4-4 before the late setback, leaving Kajal with a silver medal.She nevertheless made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a World Championships medal in the heavyweight category.Taking the mat in the 50kg final, 26-year-old Neelam faced a formidable challenge against Japan's four-time world champion Yui Susaki. She lost by fall after trailing 0-5, settling for silver in what was a landmark campaign for Indian wrestling. The podium finishes marked a new milestone for Indian wrestling, as it was the first time two Indian women competed in the finals at the same edition of the World Championships. Their medals add to the breakthrough made by Anshu Malik, who became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final in 2021, winning silver in the 57kg category.KAJAL'S RISEKajal's silver medal at the senior World Championships adds another significant chapter to her rapid rise in international wrestling. The Haryana wrestler had already established herself as one of India's brightest prospects by winning consecutive U20 world titles. In 2025, she won the women's 72kg title at the U20 World Championships, defeating China's Liu Yuqi 8-6 in the final. She returned to the top of the podium in 2026, this time winning gold in the 76kg category with a commanding 7-0 victory over China's Jingru Sun.Her transition to the senior level has been equally encouraging. Kajal's campaign in Astana included victories over Lithuania's Kamile Griskiene Gaucaite and Mongolia's Davaanasan Enkh Amar before she produced one of the tournament's most impressive comebacks in the semifinals.Trailing Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy 1-7, Kajal fought back to register a 10-7 victory and secure her place in the final. Medet Kyzy, a three-time World Championships medallist, had appeared to be in control before the Indian mounted her comeback in the second period.Although Kajal fell short of becoming India's first women's senior world champion, her silver medal on debut underlines her potential as she moves into senior international competition.NEELAM'S BREKTHROUGH Neelam won silver in women's 50kg category (UWW Photo) Neelam's silver medal was the culmination of a long journey through the domestic and international wrestling circuits. Hailing from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, the 26-year-old comes from a family with a wrestling background. Her grandfather, uncles and sister have all been involved in the sport.She trains at Najafgarh Stadium in Delhi under India's women's wrestling chief coach Virender Dahiya, along with coaches including Parvesh Rathi. Her progression to the final in Astana marked a major breakthrough after previous appearances at the senior World Championships had ended without a medal.Neelam began her campaign with a 6-0 victory over Belarus' Natallia Varakina. She then advanced through the quarterfinals after Russia's Elizaveta Smirnova withdrew with an injury before defeating Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova 7-3 in the semifinals.Against Bayanova, Neelam showed composure and attacking intent, using a four-point throw to take control of the contest and move within one win of the world title.Her final opponent, Susaki, represented a far sterner test. The Japanese wrestler is a four-time world champion and an Olympic gold medallist, making her one of the most accomplished competitors in the 50kg category.Neelam could not overcome Susaki in the final, but her run to the gold-medal bout secured a historic silver and established her as a World Championships finalist.- Ends