Kajal Dhochak Creates History, Reaches Women’s 76kg Final at World Wrestling Championships

The 18-year-old Indian defeated three-time World Championships medallist Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 after recovering from a 1-7 deficit, guaranteeing India its first-ever World Championships medal in the women’s heavyweight category.

Kajal Dhochak produced a stunning comeback to reach the women’s freestyle 76kg final at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 in the semifinals. The 18-year-old’s victory secured a historic medal for India in the heavyweight category and made her only the third Indian woman to reach a senior World Championships final.

The result capped an extraordinary day for Indian women’s wrestling, with Kajal joining Neelam Sirohi, who had also qualified for the final in the women’s 50kg category. India therefore secured two finalists at the championships, marking a significant achievement for the country’s wrestling campaign.

Kajal’s semifinal victory was particularly remarkable because she had been trailing 1-7 before turning the contest around to defeat one of the most accomplished wrestlers in her category.

Facing Medet Kyzy, a three-time World Championships medallist and one of the leading names in international women’s wrestling, Kajal confronted the biggest test of her senior career. The Kyrgyz wrestler established a commanding 7-1 advantage, putting Kajal under considerable pressure in the semifinal. With a place in the gold-medal bout at stake, the Indian teenager needed a major response to keep her hopes alive.

Kajal delivered precisely that. She fought her way back into the contest and overturned the deficit to secure a 10-7 victory, completing one of the most significant wins of her career.

The comeback was a statement of composure and determination against an opponent with extensive experience at the highest level. Rather than allowing the early deficit to decide the match, Kajal continued to compete and found a way to move ahead on the scoreboard.

The victory also guaranteed her a medal, making the achievement particularly significant for Indian wrestling. Regardless of the final’s outcome, Kajal had already secured a place on the World Championships podium in a category where India had never previously won a medal.

Asian Champion Enkh Amar Beaten in Quarterfinals

Kajal’s route to the semifinals was equally impressive. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Mongolia’s Enkh-Amaryn Davaanasan, also referred to as Enkh Amar, by a commanding 9-2 margin.

Davaanasan entered the contest with considerable credentials, having won silver at the 2023 World Championships and being the reigning Asian champion. The Mongolian therefore represented a major obstacle for the Indian teenager.

Kajal handled the challenge convincingly, registering a seven-point winning margin to book her place in the last four. The performance demonstrated her ability to compete against established international opponents rather than relying solely on the momentum of her youth-level achievements.

Earlier in the competition, Kajal had also progressed past Lithuania’s Kamilė Griškienė. The Indian wrestler advanced through a fall, underlining her ability to finish bouts decisively as she moved deeper into the tournament.

These victories laid the foundation for her semifinal breakthrough. By the time she faced Medet Kyzy, Kajal had already eliminated the reigning Asian champion and established herself as a serious contender for a place in the final.

Kajal’s performance in Astana represents another milestone in the development of one of India’s promising young wrestlers. At just 18, she is already a two-time U-20 World champion, and her senior World Championships campaign has now brought her onto the sport’s biggest stage.

Progressing from age-group success to senior international competition is a significant challenge for any wrestler. The senior field brings together athletes with greater experience, established international records and the ability to punish mistakes.

Kajal’s run has shown that she can compete at this level. Her quarterfinal victory over Davaanasan demonstrated control against an accomplished opponent, while her comeback against Medet Kyzy highlighted her ability to respond under pressure.

Her achievement also carries historical significance. With Neelam Sirohi reaching the women’s 50kg final and Kajal qualifying in the 76kg category, India has two women competing for World Championships gold in the same edition.

Anastasiya Alpyeyeva Awaits in the Final

Kajal’s next challenge will be Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, a former European champion, in the women’s 76kg gold-medal bout. The final offers the Indian teenager an opportunity to turn a historic medal-winning campaign into a World Championships title. Having overcome a seven-point deficit against Medet Kyzy, Kajal will enter the contest with the confidence of having defeated a highly decorated opponent under intense pressure.

Alpyeyeva, however, presents another demanding challenge, and Kajal will need to reproduce the resilience and effectiveness that carried her through the semifinals.

Whatever the final result, Kajal has already achieved a landmark for Indian wrestling. Her run has delivered the country its first-ever World Championships medal in the women’s heavyweight category and established her as one of the standout performers of the tournament.

At 18, she now has the chance to complete an extraordinary campaign with a gold medal.