Manisha Bhanwala wins historic gold at World Wrestling Championships

Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. Competing in the 59kg freestyle category in Astana, Kazakhstan, Bhanwala staged a dramatic comeback in the final, overcoming a 0-6 deficit to defeat American Abigail Nette with a score of 8-6.

Bhanwala’s victory concluded a highly successful campaign for the Indian women’s contingent, which secured four medals in total. Alongside her gold, Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) earned silver medals, while Tanu Sharma secured a bronze in the 72kg category. This performance marked a significant milestone for Indian wrestling, as it was the first time three Indian women reached the gold medal bouts in a single edition of the championships.

Following her victory, Bhanwala expressed her ambition to compete for a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She noted that her training focused on handling high-pressure situations, which aided her ability to score points in the final seconds of her match.