Nikita Sehrawat clinches 57kg silver; Kamna, Garima bag bronze at U17 World Championships
Baku, July 31
India's women wrestlers delivered strong podium finishes at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing home a silver and two bronze medals in highly competitive weight categories.
Leading the charge in the 57kg division, Nikita Sehrawat put together a brilliant campaign to reach the championship final, according to a press release.
Facing a formidable opponent in reigning U17 World silver medalist Epenesa Elison of the USA, Nikita fought valiantly but ultimately sustained a 0-6 defeat.
She finishes second on the podium, securing a well-deserved silver medal for India.
In the 49kg category, Kamna Babal showcased excellent resilience to claim the bronze medal. Following a semifinal setback against Japan's Saika Uchida, Kamna bounced back in the third-place play-off against Russia's Irina Tsydeeva.
In a tense and closely fought bout, the Indian grappler edged past her opponent with a 3-2 victory to secure her spot on the podium.
Adding to the nation's tally, Garima delivered a dominant performance in the 73kg bronze medal match. After a narrow 5-7 loss to USA's Kaili Manuel in the semifinals, the former U15 Asian Champion regrouped effectively.
She completely outclassed Spain's Paula Benaixa Perez, registering a flawless 10-0 victory by technical superiority (VSU) to win the bronze.
Consolidated Results
* 57kg: Nikita Sehrawat (India) vs. Epenesa Elison (USA); 0-6* 49kg: Kamna Babal (India) vs. Irina Tsydeeva (Russia); 3-2* 73kg: Garima (India) vs. Paula Benaixa Perez (Spain); 10-0, VSU.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive results from India at the U17 level. Nikita's run to the final against the reigning silver medalist shows real promise. Kamna's comeback win 3-2 in the bronze match - that's the kind of resilience champions are made of. The 10-0 technical superiority by Garima is just dominance. These girls are putting Indian wrestling on the global map.
So proud of our girls! 🥉🥈 But honestly, we need to talk about the 0-6 loss. Nikita is talented but the gap in technical skills against top wrestlers like the American is clear. We keep winning medals but not gold at youth levels. Our coaching needs to improve. Let's learn from Japan and USA - they have better mat awareness. Still, congratulations to all three! 🌟
Three medals from women's wrestling at U17 level - that's a strong statement from India. The technical superiority win by Garima is particularly impressive. Spain may not be a powerhouse, but a 10-0 scoreline at this level shows real class. And Kamna's narrow win over a Russian opponent shows Indian grit. Well done, girls. You've made the country proud.
Amazing performance by our young wrestlers! Especially Kamna bouncing back after semifinal loss to win bronze - that shows real character. But I'm a bit concerned about the 57kg final. 0-6 is a big margin. Hope the federation reviews the coaching and training for our girls. We have talent but need world-class support. Next time gold! 🥇 Bharat Mata Ki Jai! 🇮🇳
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