Astana just witnessed a seismic shift in Indian wrestling history. Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi both brought home silver medals, becoming the first pair of Indian women to reach the finals of the same senior World Championships. It’s a feat that had never happened before, and it changes the narrative entirely for women’s freestyle in the country.
The heartbreak for Dhochak was intense. The 18-year-old, competing at the senior level for the first time, was down 1-3 after the first period. But she clawed back to tie the score 4-4 with just 30 seconds left. Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, a two-time European champion, then executed a crucial move to pull ahead 8-4. Dhochak managed a late takedown, but the deficit was too big. She finished 6-8. Before the final, she had already stunned Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy with a 10-7 comeback from 1-7 down in the semis.
Neelam’s battle was different. She faced Japan’s Yui Susaki, a five-time world champion. Susaki was in a league of her own, leading 5-0 before pinning Neelam in the opening period. Neelam had to settle for silver after a 7-3 win over Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova in the semis. For Neelam, this silver is a massive breakthrough after missing the Asian Games selection spot earlier this year.
Until now, Anshu Malik’s silver in the 57kg category at the 2021 Worlds in Oslo was the only runner-up finish by an Indian woman at the senior level. Dhochak and Sirohi have now broken that record. Their double-silver finish strengthens India’s growing presence in women’s wrestling and sets the stage for future Olympic campaigns.
The next challenge for Indian wrestlers will be the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualifiers, where they’ll need to convert these medals into gold.