India’s Sujeet Kalkal captured the gold medal in the 65kg men’s freestyle category at the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial 2025, held in Budapest, Hungary, on July 17.
Kalkal’s convincing 5-1 win over Azerbaijan’s decorated Ali Rahimzade earned India its first medal of gold at any United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series event this year.
Rahul joined the celebrations with bronze in the 57kg men’s freestyle after a clinical 4-0 victory over Germany’s Niklas Stechele. Wrestling authorities and coaches hailed the breakthrough, citing this as a “turning point” for Indian wrestling ahead of September’s World Wrestling Championships.
Sujeet’s Skill and Strategy Dazzle Budapest
Sujeet Kalkal’s historic triumph came amidst one of the tournament’s toughest draws. The 24-year-old Haryana wrestler, renowned for his technical acumen and quick reflexes, started strong by dismantling Olympic bronze medallist Islam Dudaev of Albania 11-0 in the pre-quarters.
Building on this momentum, Kalkal cruised past France’s Khamzat Arsamerzouev 11-0 and dominated Armenia’s Vazgen Tevanyan 6-1 in the semis. His final opponent, Ali Rahimzade a seasoned campaigner with multiple European medals could muster only a single point.
Kalkal’s confident approach was clear as he said, “My coaches told me to wrestle fearless; I just focussed on my attacks,” in a post-match interview to UWW.
Praising his performance, WFI president Sanjay Singh emphasised, “Sujeet’s gold underlines India’s capacity to challenge and win against the world’s best. Our investment in youth and scientific training systems is paying off.”
The Momentum Shift: A New Chapter for Indian Wrestling
India’s double podium finish in Budapest marks a tangible shift in fortunes after a slow start to the season. Earlier UWW Ranking Series events in Amman and Ulaanbaatar saw Indian wrestlers narrowly missing out despite close bouts against Olympic and World Championship medalists.
The Budapest gold ends that dry spell, boosts wrestlers’ seeding for September’s Worlds in Croatia, and injects fresh belief into the Indian squad. For Sujeet, this victory is the culmination of a rapid rise: moving from junior Asian champion to U23 World bronze medallist in 2024, and now, standing atop the podium on the senior global stage.
Rahul’s bronze in Budapest affirms India’s growing bench strength, as rising stars challenge for global honours. As per the latest UWW rankings released yesterday, Sujeet has vaulted into the world top five in his category a first for an Indian in 65kg men’s freestyle since Bajrang Punia, signalling a new era.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sujeet and Rahul’s medals do more than bring personal glory they strengthen the nation’s confidence and signal the ever-widening reach of sports across India. These wins reflect the potential unlocked when young athletes, often from rural heartlands, have access to infrastructure, scientific coaching, and mentoring.
Their journeys are a call to action for policymakers, communities, and corporate sponsors: let’s bridge the urban-rural divide, offer every Indian child an equal chance at the world stage, and build on these foundational victories for a lasting legacy in Olympic sports. As Sujeet’s story proves, dreams nurtured in small-town India can inspire the world. What steps do you believe are essential to keep India’s wrestling momentum alive and ensure young talent receives the support they deserve?
