PM Modi congratulates Indian wrestlers for outstanding performance in 2026 U23 Asian Championships
New Delhi, May 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Indian wrestlers for their outstanding performance in the 2026 U23 Asian Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam, with the Men's Freestyle and Women's teams winning the overall championships.
It was a historic campaign in a sensational continental campaign with the entire Indian contingent amassing a staggering total of 27 medals, comprising eleven gold, seven silver, and nine bronze, across the Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, and Greco-Roman categories.
"An outstanding performance by our wrestlers! Our Men's Freestyle and Women's Wrestling teams won the Team Titles at the 2026 U23 Asian Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam," PM Modi wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
"The Men's Freestyle Wrestling team secured 9 medals, including 4 Golds, thus registering India's highest-ever overall medal haul at the U23 Asian Championships in history. The women's wrestling contingent won 10 medals, including 6 Golds. The Greco-Roman team also recorded its highest-ever overall medal count with 8 medals. Congratulations to our wrestlers. My best wishes for the endeavours ahead," PM Modi wrote in his post.
The Indian men's freestyle wrestling team was crowned the undisputed champions at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam, lifting the Team Championship Trophy with a spectacular first-place finish.
India dominated the freestyle standings to claim the top spot ahead of powerhouse nations Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, who finished second and third, respectively.
The championship-winning freestyle squad wrapped up their campaign with nine medals, including four gold, three silver, and two bronze. Akshay T Dhere (57kg) and Vicky (97kg) set the tone with brilliant gold medals, and the momentum was carried forward by Kumar Mohit (65kg) and Chandermohan (79kg), who also stood atop the podium.
Deepak Rathi (61kg), Punit Kumar (92kg), and Lacky (125kg) contributed to the historic team title with hard-fought silver medals, while Deepak Berwal (74kg) and Mor Sachin (82kg) rounded out the freestyle tally with crucial bronze medal finishes.
India's women wrestlers were equally dominant throughout the tournament, delivering an exceptional performance to capture ten medals. The women's contingent brought home a remarkable six gold medals, with Muskan (53kg), Tapasya (57kg), Bhagyashree (62kg), Pulkit (67kg), Mansi (68kg), and Kajal (76kg) all showcasing their technical superiority in their respective title clashes.
Neha (59kg) and Sweety (50kg) fought valiantly to secure silver medals, while Amruta (72kg) and Ahilya (55kg) finished their campaigns on the podium with bronze.
In the Greco-Roman category, the Indian grapplers laid a strong foundation early in the tournament by securing eight medals. Sumit led the charge with a spectacular gold in the 63kg division, supported by silver medals from Suraj (60kg) and Sagar Singh (67kg).
Neeraj Patel (55kg), Sachin (77kg), Rohit Bura (87kg), Rohit (97kg), and Hardeep (130kg) added to the impressive haul with well-deserved bronze medals.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While this is indeed outstanding, I hope the government also focuses on grassroots wrestling infrastructure in states like Haryana, UP, and Maharashtra. Our rural talents need better training facilities and nutrition support. Medals are great, but sustainable development in sports is what will ensure long-term success.
As someone who follows wrestling globally, India's performance in U23 Asian levels is remarkable! Beating Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in freestyle is no joke. The depth in both men's and women's categories is really impressive. Well done to the entire contingent and support staff!
As a parent of a young wrestler in Haryana, this gives me so much hope! Seeing girls like Muskan, Tapasya, and Kajal winning gold is so inspiring for our daughters. The future of Indian wrestling is bright!
The Greco-Roman team also deserves special mention! 8 medals with Sumit's gold in 63kg is a big achievement. This category has traditionally been tough for India, so seeing this progress is really heartening. Let's hope these young champions continue to shine at senior levels!
Brilliant performance! But I can't help wondering - are these athletes getting enough mental health support? The pressure to perform for the country is immense. We need proper sports psychology, nutritionists, and career counseling for our young athletes, especially those from smaller towns.
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