Neha Sangwan and Manisha Bhanwala Strike Gold as India Finishes Strong at Mongolia Ranking Series

Indian wrestling continued its impressive run at the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series in Mongolia as Neha Sangwan and Manisha Bhanwala captured gold medals in their respective weight categories, adding to an already successful campaign for the country.

The two women's freestyle wrestlers delivered standout performances against high-quality international opposition, helping India finish the prestigious Ranking Series event on a high. Their victories came after Greco-Roman wrestlers Sunil Kumar and Nitesh had already secured gold medals earlier in the competition, underlining the growing depth of Indian wrestling ahead of major events such as the 2026 Asian Games.

Neha Sangwan emerged as one of India's biggest success stories in Mongolia, claiming the gold medal in the women's 59kg category with an unbeaten run throughout the day.

The Indian wrestler showcased consistency and composure across all five of her bouts, remaining undefeated on her way to the top of the podium.

In the gold medal bout, Neha faced a stern challenge from North Korea's Hong Pyol, the silver medallist at the 2025 Asian Wrestling Championships. The final proved far more competitive than their earlier encounter in the tournament, where Neha had registered a commanding 10-2 victory. This time, Hong Pyol pushed the Indian much harder, but Neha maintained her focus and tactical discipline to secure a 5-3 victory and clinch the gold medal.

The result highlighted Neha's growing stature on the international circuit and reinforced her credentials as one of India's promising wrestlers in the Olympic weight categories.

Her ability to defeat a reigning Asian Championships silver medallist twice in the same tournament demonstrated both technical superiority and mental strength under pressure.

Manisha Bhanwala Pulls Off Massive Upset

If Neha's triumph showcased consistency, Manisha Bhanwala's gold-medal run was defined by one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Competing in the women's 57kg category, Manisha produced a sensational performance in the final against North Korea's Son Il Sim, one of the most decorated wrestlers in the field. Son Il Sim entered the event as the reigning silver medallist at both the 2025 World Wrestling Championships and the 2025 Asian Wrestling Championships, making her one of the favourites for the title.

However, Manisha had other plans.

The Indian wrestler delivered an aggressive and fearless performance before securing victory via pinfall in a dramatic contest. After establishing a 3-1 advantage, Manisha pinned the North Korean star to seal a memorable gold medal. The victory stands among the most significant wins of her career and offers further proof of her readiness for bigger challenges on the international stage.

Manisha is expected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games, and her triumph over a reigning world and Asian silver medallist will provide a major confidence boost ahead of the continental showpiece.

India's success in Mongolia was not limited to women's wrestling. Earlier in the tournament, experienced Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar captured gold in the men's 87kg category. The six-time Asian Championships medallist and Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist defeated Kyrgyzstan's Azat Salidinov 4-1 in the final to secure his second career Ranking Series gold medal and his first since 2022.

Nitesh also enjoyed a memorable campaign, winning gold in the men's Greco-Roman 97kg category. He defeated Kazakhstan's Nurassyl Amanaly 13-9 in the final after earlier victories over Venezuela's Juan Blanco and Mongolia's Gankhuyag Ganbaatar.

Like Sunil, Nitesh is expected to be part of India's Asian Games squad later this year. India added another medal through Sahil, who secured bronze in the men's Greco-Roman 60kg category. His medal was confirmed after compatriot Sumit Dalal, another Asian Games-bound wrestler, was forced to forfeit their bronze-medal match because of injury.

Meanwhile, Joginder Rathee faced a difficult outing in the 130kg category, losing 0-10 to Kazakhstan's Olzhas Syrlybay. Despite that setback, the Indian Greco-Roman contingent concluded the Ranking Series with an impressive haul of two gold medals and one bronze medal.

The performances in Ulaanbaatar come at an important stage of the season as Indian wrestlers continue preparations for the 2026 Asian Games and other major international events.

Victories against world-class opponents, particularly those from traditional wrestling powerhouses such as North Korea, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, underline the progress Indian wrestlers have made across disciplines.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/sunil-kumar-and-nitesh-strike-gold-at-ulaanbaatar-open-ranking-series

For Neha Sangwan and Manisha Bhanwala, the gold medals represent major milestones in their careers. Both wrestlers demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure and overcome highly ranked opposition on the international stage.

With Sunil Kumar and Nitesh also returning home with gold medals, the Ulaanbaatar Open hwas provided Indian wrestling with plenty of reasons for optimism.

The strong medal haul not only reflects the depth within the national setup but also highlights India's growing competitiveness across both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling as the countdown to the Asian Games gathers momentum.