Sujeet Kalkal's 24‑match winning run collapsed when he fell 3‑3 to Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the World Championships quarterfinals, the match decided on criteria after the last point.
He had been riding a wave of success, bagging seven titles last year, from the U23 World Champs to the Asian Games gold, and his only loss before this came in the repechage at Zagreb last year.
The bout swung like a pendulum in the final 30 seconds. Kalkal pushed for a takedown near the mat edge but was countered; the chair umpire awarded him two points, only to have the decision overturned after a challenge, giving Kudiev the same. The match stayed level, and the last point scored by the Tajik clinched the win on criteria.
India's hopes of a second senior world champion—after Sushil Kumar in 2010—crumpled with the loss. Kalkal, who had previously bested Kudiev in the Asian Games final, left the arena with a bittersweet mix of disappointment and a drive to reclaim his place.
Next up, he must regroup for the upcoming Asian Games and the national championships, where he aims to rebuild momentum and secure a podium finish.