Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal wins gold in the men’s freestyle 65kg final at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi–Nagoya, defeating Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev. Kalkal trails 2-9 with about a minute and 40 seconds remaining, then scores a late takedown sequence to swing the bout and secure the title with seconds left, with reports describing a final winning margin of 10-9.
The outlets also note Kalkal’s broader path to the final, including a semifinal win over Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka. Coverage highlights that Kalkal advances by overcoming deficits and earning points in key moments, including a win over Kiyooka after the bout is tied on points and he is awarded victory for securing the decisive scoring. This gold ends India’s wrestling gold drought at the Asian Games that dates to 2018, and contributes to the wider medal haul at the Games.
While one report emphasizes the fight’s turning points and exact time when Kalkal makes the comeback, others focus more on the milestone nature of the win—first wrestling gold since 2018—and the significance of beating the Olympic champion en route to the final.
