Neha Wins Gold, Mansi Takes Silver as India’s Medal Tally Reaches Eight at Budapest Ranking Series 2026

India continued its impressive campaign at the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament 2026 in Budapest with another outstanding day on the mats, as former U17 World Champion Neha clinched gold in the women's 59kg category while Mansi and Savita added a silver and bronze respectively.

The three podium finishes on Day 3 took India's overall medal tally to eight medals two gold, two silver and four bronze, underlining the country's growing strength across both men's and women's wrestling.

Neha's triumph was the highlight of the day, earning India its second gold medal of the tournament after Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat opened the campaign with victory in the men's freestyle 57kg category. With several weight categories still to come, India remains on course for one of its strongest performances at a UWW Ranking Series event this season.

Neha once again demonstrated why she is regarded as one of India's brightest wrestling prospects. The former U17 World Champion, who has been making a smooth transition into senior international competition, displayed remarkable composure throughout the women's 59kg event before producing another mature performance in the final.

Facing Abigail E. Nette of the United States, Neha was involved in a closely fought tactical battle where every point carried significant importance. Neither wrestler was willing to concede easy scoring opportunities, forcing the contest into a strategic battle of positioning, defence and counter-attacks.

When the crucial moments arrived, Neha remained calm under pressure. The Indian wrestler capitalised on her opportunities and edged the American 6-4 on points, securing the gold medal after an intense championship bout.

The victory adds another important chapter to Neha's rapidly developing career. Having already enjoyed success at age-group level, the youngster has now shown that she can also compete successfully against established senior international opponents.

Winning a UWW Ranking Series gold is another significant milestone as she continues her progression towards the biggest global championships.

India came close to adding another gold medal in the women's 62kg category through Mansi. The Indian wrestler produced a series of strong performances to reach the gold-medal bout, where she faced Canada's Ana P. Godinez Gonzalez. Unfortunately, what promised to be a competitive final ended in disappointment for the Indian.

Mansi suffered an injury during the bout, preventing her from completing the contest and forcing her to settle for the silver medal. While the circumstances denied her an opportunity to challenge for gold, her performances throughout the competition reflected her consistency and ability to compete against high-quality opposition.

The silver medal nevertheless represents another valuable international result and contributes significantly to India's growing medal tally in Budapest. The immediate focus will now shift towards her recovery ahead of future international assignments.

India completed another successful day in the women's 62kg category through Savita, who claimed the bronze medal after an attacking display against Kazakhstan's Irina Kuznetsova. Unlike the closely contested gold medal bouts, Savita controlled proceedings from the opening exchanges.

She consistently attacked with confidence, building a healthy lead before eventually securing a convincing 14-5 victory. The high-scoring contest highlighted Savita's offensive approach and ability to maintain pressure throughout the bout. Her bronze medal ensured India placed two wrestlers on the podium in the 62kg category, demonstrating the country's depth in women's wrestling.

The latest medals have strengthened India's overall performance in Budapest. The campaign began with Aman Sehrawat's dominant gold-medal performance in the men's freestyle 57kg division, where the Paris Olympic bronze medallist showcased his class throughout the competition. India's medal count then continued to rise through Deepak, Vishal Kaliraman, Rajat Ruhal, and Hansika Lamba.

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Hansika's silver medal in the women's 55kg category came after a memorable semifinal comeback against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas before she finished runner-up to Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska in the final. The addition of Neha's gold, Mansi's silver and Savita's bronze has now made it one of India's most productive outings at a senior ranking event this season.

India's campaign is far from over. Attention will now turn towards the remaining women's wrestling categories as well as the beginning of the Greco-Roman competition.

India's challenge in the women's division will be led by Nishu (53kg), Neha Sharma (57kg), Deeksha Malik (72kg) and Priya (76kg), all of whom will look to add to the country's medal tally. The Greco-Roman wrestlers will also begin their campaign, with Anil competing in the 72kg category, while Rohit Bura and Kumar Sunil will represent India in the 87kg division.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Indian contingent will be hoping to continue its impressive run in Budapest. The performances so far have highlighted not only the established stars like Aman Sehrawat but also the emergence of a new generation led by wrestlers such as Neha and Hansika Lamba, who are steadily making their mark on the senior international circuit.

As the tournament enters its final stages, India already has eight medals in the bag and will be aiming to finish the Ranking Series with an even stronger medal haul.

India's Medal Tally (After Day 3)

Gold (2):

• Aman Sehrawat – Men's Freestyle 57kg

• Neha – Women's Wrestling 59kg

Silver (2):

• Hansika Lamba – Women's Wrestling 55kg

• Mansi – Women's Wrestling 62kg

Bronze (4):

• Deepak – Men's Freestyle 61kg

• Vishal Kaliraman – Men's Freestyle 65kg

• Rajat Ruhal – Men's Freestyle 125kg

• Savita – Women's Wrestling 62kg