Neelam’s Grit, Kajal’s Rise: How Two Silvers Made Wrestling Worlds Historic for India
India may have missed out on its first gold at the Women’s Senior World Wrestling Championships, but Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak have still delivered a landmark moment in Astana. The Indian duo returned with silver medals, becoming the first pair of Indian women to reach the finals at the same edition of the Senior World Championships. Before this event, Anshu Malik (silver in 2021) was the only Indian woman ever to reach a senior World Championships final.
Xtratime Webdesk: India may have missed out on its first gold at the Women’s Senior World Wrestling Championships, but Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak have still delivered a landmark moment in Astana. The Indian duo returned with silver medals, becoming the first pair of Indian women to reach the finals at the same edition of the Senior World Championships. Before this event, Anshu Malik (silver in 2021) was the only Indian woman ever to reach a senior World Championships final.
For Neelam, the silver in the 50kg category was the reward for years of persistence. The 26-year-old from Phenchari village near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh had already experienced the frustrations of competing at the senior level without a World medal. Her journey began with an unusual commitment, cycling about 20 kilometres every day to reach her training in Delhi, despite initial resistance from her family. That determination eventually carried her past Belarus’ Natallia Varakina and Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova to her maiden World final.
Waiting there was Japan’s Yui Susaki, a four-time World champion and Olympic gold medallist. Neelam could not produce the final upset, losing by fall, but her run marked a breakthrough after years of near misses.
Kajal’s story, meanwhile, points towards the next generation of Indian wrestling. At just 18, she reached the senior World final on debut after winning consecutive U20 World titles. Her semifinal was a statement of character as she recovered from a 1-7 deficit against Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy to win 10-7.
In the 76kg final, Kajal pushed Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva all the way before narrowly losing 6-8. The result also made her the first Indian woman to win a World Championships medal in a heavyweight category.
Neelam’s silver represents perseverance finally paying off; Kajal’s reflects the arrival of a new generation. Together, their two medals have strengthened India’s presence in women’s wrestling and offered a glimpse of what could follow beyond Astana.
