Kajal Dhochak Wins Gold as India Finish Runners-Up in Women’s Team Standings at Ulaanbaatar Open

India’s women wrestlers continued their impressive run on the international circuit with a strong performance at the Ulaanbaatar Open, a United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series event in Mongolia. 

Kajal Dhochak emerged as the standout performer on the final day, clinching the gold medal in the women’s 76kg category, while Priya Malik added a bronze medal as India finished second in the overall women’s team standings behind powerhouse North Korea.

The latest medals added to an already successful campaign for the Indian contingent, which saw multiple wrestlers reach the podium against quality international competition. The performances also provided another encouraging sign ahead of major events later this season, including the Asian Games.

Kajal Dhochak delivered a dominant performance in the 76kg category to secure the gold medal. In the final, she completely outclassed Nigeria’s Ojo Damola Hannah, registering an emphatic 8-0 victory. Kajal remained in control throughout the bout, showcasing her technical superiority and defensive discipline to prevent her opponent from scoring.

The gold medal marked a significant achievement for the Indian wrestler, who has steadily established herself as one of the country's leading prospects in the higher weight categories. Her victory against an experienced international opponent highlighted the progress she has made on the senior circuit. While Kajal stood on top of the podium, India also celebrated another medal in the same weight category through Priya Malik. The former world age-group champion secured the bronze medal, ensuring a double podium finish for India in the 76kg division.

Priya’s medal continued her consistent performances on the international stage. Having already established herself as one of India’s brightest young wrestling talents, another podium finish at a Ranking Series event will further boost her confidence as she targets bigger achievements in the coming months.

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India’s medal haul in women’s wrestling was not limited to the 76kg category. Several other wrestlers produced strong performances to secure bronze medals across different weight divisions.

In the 50kg category, Neelam Sirohi finished with a bronze medal after battling through a competitive field. Hansika Lamba added another bronze in the 55kg category, while Mansi Ahlawat secured India’s third bronze medal of the day in the 62kg division.

The collection of medals across multiple weight classes reflected the growing depth within Indian women’s wrestling. Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the strongest nations in women’s wrestling, consistently producing medal contenders at continental and world-level competitions.

The results in Mongolia once again demonstrated that the talent pipeline remains strong, with both established names and emerging wrestlers contributing to the country's success.

India’s overall performance helped the women’s team secure second place in the team standings. North Korea finished on top after another dominant showing, but India’s runners-up finish highlighted the competitiveness of the squad across different weight categories.

The team ranking is particularly significant because it reflects collective consistency rather than relying on a single standout performance. With wrestlers reaching the podium in several divisions, India showed that it possesses strength across the spectrum of women’s wrestling. The Ulaanbaatar Open is one of the key events on the UWW Ranking Series calendar and attracts high-quality wrestlers from across the world. Success at such tournaments not only provides valuable ranking points but also serves as an important benchmark ahead of major championships.

For Indian wrestling, the tournament offered an opportunity to assess athletes against international opposition while building momentum towards upcoming continental and global competitions. The performances of Kajal Dhochak, Priya Malik, Neelam Sirohi, Hansika Lamba and Mansi Ahlawat will provide encouragement to the coaching staff as preparations continue for the remainder of the season.

The women’s team performance also complemented India’s success in Greco-Roman wrestling earlier in the competition. Sunil Kumar and Nitesh had already won gold medals in their respective categories, highlighting a productive outing for the Indian contingent in Mongolia.

Kajal’s gold medal ultimately served as the perfect finish to India’s women’s campaign. Her commanding victory in the final showcased both confidence and maturity, qualities that will be crucial as she looks to establish herself among the top wrestlers in the world.

With one gold, four bronze medals and a second-place finish in the team standings, India leaves the Ulaanbaatar Open with plenty of positives. The results underline the country's growing strength in women’s wrestling and provide further evidence that India remains one of the leading forces in the sport across Asia.

As attention now shifts towards upcoming international competitions, the performances in Mongolia will give Indian wrestlers valuable confidence and momentum. For Kajal Dhochak, in particular, the gold medal represents another important milestone in what continues to be a promising career on the international stage.