Astana, October 31, 2026: Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala has created history by winning India’s first-ever women’s gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships. She captured the 59kg title in Astana, Kazakhstan, with a dramatic 8-6 victory over the United States’ Abigail Nette.
Manisha’s final was a remarkable comeback. She trailed 6-0 before fighting her way back into the contest with takedowns and a gut-wrench turn. She eventually moved ahead 8-6 and held on to secure the historic gold.
A landmark result for Indian wrestling
United World Wrestling described the result as India’s first-ever women’s world championship gold. The victory also made Manisha only the second Indian wrestler to win a senior world championship title, following Sushil Kumar’s 2010 triumph.
Indian wrestlers Neelam and Kajal had also reached their respective finals at the championships but finished with silver medals, adding to India’s strong overall showing.
Why the win matters
The title is a major milestone for women’s wrestling in India and highlights the progress of athletes competing at the highest international level. Manisha’s ability to recover from a large deficit in the final made the victory especially memorable.
Sources: United World Wrestling; Akashvani News.
