Kajal Wins 76kg Gold as India's Medal Tally Rises to 12 at Budapest Ranking Series 2026

India's impressive campaign at the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026 continued in style as reigning U20 World Champion Kajal captured the women's 76kg gold medal, leading another successful day for the Indian contingent in Budapest.

The young wrestler once again showcased why she is regarded as one of India's brightest wrestling prospects, overcoming a tough challenge from the United States' Dymond Precious Guilford in the final to claim India's third gold medal of the tournament.

India also added two silver medals through Antim Panghal and Neha Sharma, while Nishu secured a determined bronze medal, taking the country's overall medal tally to 12 medals three gold, four silver and five bronze after four days of competition.

With the Greco-Roman events still to come, India has already underlined its growing strength across multiple wrestling disciplines. 

At just 19 years of age, Kajal continues to justify the immense expectations surrounding her career. Already the 2025 U20 World Champion and 2024 U17 World Champion, the youngster has quickly made the transition from ag -group success to the senior international circuit.

Her gold medal bout against American wrestler Dymond Precious Guilford was a tense tactical contest, with neither athlete willing to concede ground. The match finished 3-3, but Kajal was declared the winner on criteria after producing the decisive scoring sequence at the crucial stage of the contest.

It was another demonstration of her composure under pressure, tactical awareness and ability to deliver when the stakes are highest. Winning a senior ranking series gold against a strong international field will further boost her confidence as she continues to establish herself among the world's leading wrestlers in the 76kg division.

For Indian wrestling, Kajal's victory represents more than just another medal—it signals the arrival of another world-class talent capable of competing consistently at the highest level.

Antim Panghal Forced to Settle for Silver

Olympian and one of India's most accomplished young wrestlers, Antim Panghal, also enjoyed an impressive campaign in the 53kg category, reaching the gold medal bout. However, the final ended in unfortunate circumstances. Facing Sweden's Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren, Antim was forced to concede the bout due to injury (VIN), settling for the silver medal.

While the result denied her another international title, reaching the final once again highlighted her consistency on the world stage. The priority now will be ensuring the injury is not serious, with several major international competitions scheduled over the coming months.

India's second silver medal of the day came courtesy of Neha Sharma, who produced a string of impressive performances to reach the 57kg final. Standing between her and the gold medal was China's Kexin Hong, one of the strongest wrestlers in the competition. Neha battled throughout the contest but ultimately went down 0-4 on points, finishing with a well-deserved silver medal.

Despite the defeat, her run to the final reflects the growing depth in India's women's wrestling programme, with multiple athletes now capable of challenging for medals at international ranking events.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/neha-wins-gold-mansi-takes-silver-as-india-s-medal-tally-reaches-eight-at-budapest-ranking-series-2026

Another standout performance came from Nishu in the 53kg category. Competing in the bronze medal match against Romania's Andrea Beatrice Ana, the Indian wrestler displayed exceptional defensive discipline in a closely fought contest. The bout ended 2-2, but Nishu emerged victorious on criteria (VPO1), earning a place on the podium after one of the day's most tactical matches.

Her ability to remain composed under pressure and capitalise on the scoring criteria proved decisive, adding another valuable medal to India's growing tally.

One of the biggest positives from the Budapest Ranking Series has been the remarkable consistency shown by India's women's wrestlers. With Kajal, Antim Panghal, Neha Sharma and Nishu all reaching the podium on the latest day of competition, the women's team has once again demonstrated its ability to compete with the world's best.

The success also builds on earlier medal-winning performances by Neha (59kg), Hansika Lamba (55kg), Mansi (62kg) and Savita (62kg), giving India medals across multiple weight categories. Such depth is an encouraging sign as Indian wrestling prepares for the next Olympic cycle.

India's Medal Count Reaches 12

Following the latest results, India has now secured 12 medals in Budapest:

Gold (3)

• Neha (59kg)

• Aman Sehrawat (57kg Men's Freestyle)

• Kajal (76kg)

Silver (4)

• Antim Panghal (53kg)

• Hansika Lamba (55kg)

• Neha Sharma (57kg)

• Mansi (62kg)

Bronze (5)

• Nishu (53kg)

• Savita (62kg)

• Deepak (61kg Men's Freestyle)

• Vishal Kaliraman (65kg Men's Freestyle)

• Rajat Ruhal (125kg Men's Freestyle)

The medal spread across both women's wrestling and men's freestyle reflects the strength and balance within the Indian squad.

With the women's and men's freestyle competitions nearing their conclusion, India's attention now turns to the Greco-Roman events, where another group of wrestlers will look to add to the country's already impressive medal haul.

Having already claimed three gold, four silver and five bronze medals, India has firmly established itself among the standout nations at the Budapest Ranking Series.

Beyond the medals, the tournament has reinforced an important trend. Established stars continue to deliver, while the next generation—led by wrestlers like Kajal—has shown that India's pipeline of talent remains as strong as ever.

If the performances over the first four days are any indication, Indian wrestling heads into the remainder of the international season with renewed confidence and growing momentum.