India's Asian Games Hope
Indian Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal and Raider Devank Dalal Target Asian Games Gold
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Key Points
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Sujeet Kalkal became the first Indian wrestler since Bajrang Punia in 2019 to win the Asian championship in the 65kg category.
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His rise to No. 1 in the UWW rankings put him ahead of Iran’s world champion Rahman Amouzad and Japan’s Paris 2024 Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka.
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Kalkal’s senior breakthrough followed a strong 2025 campaign in which he won his second Under-23 Asian Championships title, taking all five bouts by technical superiority, and then defeated Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Islam Dudaev 11-0 at the Budapest Ranking Series.
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Experienced India all-rounder Aslam Inamdar backed the kabaddi squad, saying the players’ understanding has grown through the Pro Kabaddi League and national camps and urging the younger members to compete with a free mind.
Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal arrives at the 2026 Asian Games as an unbeaten gold-medal favorite after becoming the first Indian to win the 65-kilogram Asian championship since Bajrang Punia in 2019. The 24-year-old has climbed to No. 1 in the world rankings, surpassing Iran's world champion Rahman Amouzad and Japan's Paris 2024 Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka TheSportstar. Meanwhile, kabaddi raider Devank Dalal will make his Asian Games debut after scoring 271 raid points in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, as India opens its men's kabaddi campaign seeking to defend its gold medal.
Kalkal's rise to the summit followed a dominant 2025 campaign in which he won his second Under-23 Asian Championships title by winning all five bouts via technical superiority, then defeated Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Islam Dudaev 11-0 at the Budapest Ranking Series IndiaToday. India's men's kabaddi team will face Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei in Group A, with the gold-medal match set for September 26.
Kalkal's Unbeaten Path to Asian Wrestling Gold
Sujeet Kalkal enters the Asian Games with zero losses this season, a record built on wins at major tournaments across Europe and Asia. He captured the Zagreb Open and the Tirana Ranking Series, then peaked by winning gold at the Asian championship in his weight class TheSportstar. His ascent to world No. 1 marks a historic moment for Indian wrestling, placing him ahead of two Olympic-level competitors.
Kalkal's breakthrough came after years on the under-23 circuit where he established himself as a technical wrestler. At Budapest, his 11-0 destruction of Dudaev—an Olympic medalist—announced his arrival as a senior force IndiaToday. At 24, he now carries India's wrestling medal hopes into a gold-medal contest where his form leaves little doubt about his ambitions.
Devank Dalal Steps Into Asia's Biggest Kabaddi Stage
Devank Dalal views his national team selection as a responsibility, not pressure, after an explosive Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 where he scored 271 raid points TheSportstar. The young raider joins a squad seeking to retain India's gold medal at Japan's Asian Games. His scoring prowess gives India another potent offensive weapon alongside its seasoned stars.
Experienced all-rounder Aslam Inamdar backed the kabaddi squad ahead of competition, highlighting how the Pro Kabaddi League and national camps have built strong chemistry and understanding among the players Hindustan. Inamdar urged younger debutants like Dalal to compete freely and trust their preparation. India opens against Japan on September 21 before facing the tournament favorites.
India's Men's Kabaddi Gold-Medal Defense Begins
India's men's kabaddi team launched its title defense with a dominant 49-24 victory over hosts Japan in their opening Group A fixture BusinessStandard. The team established control early, taking a commanding 31-9 lead at halftime before extending the margin in the second half. The win showcased the depth of India's raid and defense combinations.
Three Asian Games debutants—Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, and Ashu Malik—played crucial roles in the victory DailyHunt. India next faces stronger opposition in South Korea and Bangladesh as it pursues a repeat gold medal in the tournament. The September 26 final will determine whether India retains its crown in the sport's most competitive region.
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