Asian Games 2026 | This gold is above all: Grappler Sujeet on comeback win

Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal (in red) competes in the men’s 65kg final against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev in Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. Pic/PTI

Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal had an Olympic champion on his side of the draw, but refused to be intimidated. He competed with a winning mindset that gave him the biggest title of his career and has now made him believe he can contend for an Olympic medal in 2028.

The men's 65kg gold medal bout had everything: an ominous start, an extraordinary fightback, and the composure to finish the job when the contest was slipping away at 2-9. "I will put this Asian Games medal above all that I have achieved in my career," Sujeet said.

Sujeet beat Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semi-final. Against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, Sujeet overturned the seven-point deficit, scoring eight points to complete a 10-9 victory. "My body was a bit cool. It took time to warm up the body, that is why I could not do well initially in the bout. I was confident I will pull it off," he said.

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