Indian wrestlers Kajal Dhochak, 18, and Neelam Sirohi, 26, won silver medals at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on October 28. Kajal finished second in the women’s 76kg category after losing 6-8 to Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, while Neelam lost the women’s 50kg final to Japan’s Yui Susaki.
According to United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s international governing body, the two Indian wrestlers had reached the finals a day earlier, giving India two opportunities to win its first senior women’s world title. Although neither secured gold, their qualification for the finals marked a milestone for Indian women’s wrestling.
Kajal’s Breakthrough
Kajal entered the senior World Championships after establishing herself in junior international wrestling. UWW identifies her as an 18-year-old Indian wrestler competing in the women’s 76kg category and recognises her as a U20 world champion. The Astana competition provided her an opportunity to test herself against senior international opponents.
During the semi-final on October 27, Kajal faced Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy, a returning World Championships silver medallist. She recovered from a 1-7 deficit to win 10-7, securing her place in the gold-medal bout. UWW’s report described her comeback as a significant performance, with her successful takedowns in the second period helping her overturn the deficit.
In the final against Alpyeyeva on October 28, Kajal came close to winning gold. The score was tied at 4-4 with around 30 seconds remaining, and Kajal held the advantage on criteria. However, the Ukrainian wrestler executed a decisive takedown that gave her a four-point scoring sequence. Kajal responded with a takedown of her own with 13 seconds left, but Alpyeyeva secured an 8-6 victory. Kajal therefore finished with the silver medal.
🇮🇳THE MOMENT IS HERE! From an incredible comeback in the semi-finals to the biggest stage of her senior career, Kajal Dhochak is ready to fight for world gold. 🔥 All eyes on the Women’s 76kg final! 🥇🤼♀️ 🎥 – @wrestling #Wrestling #WFI #TeamIndia #WrestleAstana https://t.co/eRGlb3jLa6
— Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) (@wfi_wrestling) October 28, 2026
Neelam’s Final
Neelam Sirohi competed in the women’s 50kg category. At 26, she entered the championship as an Indian senior wrestler seeking a place among the world’s leading competitors in her weight class. UWW’s official competition coverage confirms her progression to the final against Japan’s Yui Susaki.
Neelam secured her place in the final with a 7-3 victory over Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova in the semi-final on October 27. According to UWW’s account, Neelam used a double-leg attack to score two points before executing a throw that earned four points. A step-out extended her lead, leaving Bayanova unable to overturn the result.
The final brought Neelam up against Susaki, a four-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist. Susaki won the bout by fall, leaving Neelam with silver. While the final result did not deliver a world title for India, Neelam’s progression through the competition placed her among the finalists in one of women’s wrestling’s most competitive weight categories. The official UWW competition listing records both Indian wrestlers’ gold-medal bouts on October 28.
Indian wrestlers Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi script history at the World Championships, clinching silver medals after reaching their respective finals. A proud moment for Indian wrestling! @YASMinistry @PIB_India #IndianWrestling #Wrestling #KajalDhochak #NeelamSirohi #TeamIndia #ProudMoment
— DD News (@DDNewslive) October 28, 2026
A Historic Milestone
The two finalists represented a significant development for Indian women’s wrestling. Before the 2026 championships, Anshu Malik had become the first Indian woman to reach a senior World Championships final, winning silver in 2021. UWW reported ahead of the Astana finals that Neelam became the second Indian woman to reach the final, followed by Kajal as the third. This meant India had two women competing for gold at the same edition for the first time.
The championships also highlighted the importance of sustained development across weight categories. Kajal’s progression from the U20 level to a senior world final demonstrated her ability to compete against experienced wrestlers, while Neelam’s semi-final victory earned her a chance to challenge one of the sport’s most decorated athletes.
The official results confirm that both wrestlers returned with silver medals. However, India remained in pursuit of its first senior women’s World Championships gold medal. No additional official statement from the Wrestling Federation of India or either athlete has been included here because a primary-source statement could not be independently verified in the sources consulted.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi’s performances deserve recognition for the determination and skill required to reach a world championship final. Their silver medals are important achievements in their own right, even as Indian wrestling continues to pursue its first senior women’s world title.
Their performances also offer an opportunity to reflect on how young athletes can be supported through quality coaching, competitive opportunities and long-term investment in sport. Recognising athletes should mean celebrating their achievements while allowing them the time and support needed to develop further.
As India continues to build its presence in international women’s wrestling, what more can be done to support emerging wrestlers and help them turn world-level silver medals into future gold-medal victories?
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