Sujeet Kalkal Completes Stunning Comeback to Win Asian Games Wrestling Gold

Sujeet Kalkal has produced one of the most extraordinary comebacks of the 2026 Asian Games, overturning a 2-9 deficit to defeat Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 10-9 and win gold in the men’s freestyle 65kg category.

For much of the final, the gold medal appeared to be slipping away from the Indian wrestler. Kudiev controlled the opening period, repeatedly capitalising on Sujeet's attacking attempts and taking a commanding lead. Then came one of the most remarkable passages of wrestling India has seen at these Games.

With the clock running down, Sujeet found a second gear. He scored takedown after takedown, shut Kudiev out completely in the decisive period and produced the winning two-point move with just 11 seconds remaining. India had its wrestling champion.

The final began with Kudiev immediately establishing his physical presence. The Tajik wrestler threw Sujeet out of the wrestling area to collect the opening two points.

Moments later, Kudiev attacked Sujeet's legs and added another two points. The scoreboard read 4-0. Sujeet attempted to respond with his trademark attacking wrestling, but Kudiev was ready to counter. During another exchange, Sujeet lost his balance and went out of bounds, allowing Kudiev to extend his advantage to 5-2 with around a minute remaining in the opening period.

Sujeet finally got on the scoreboard with a two-point takedown after the restart. But the response was immediately countered by another exceptional sequence from Kudiev. The Tajik wrestler secured another takedown and then turned Sujeet over, collecting four points from the sequence. Suddenly, the Indian was staring at a 2-9 deficit.

The situation appeared desperate.

Sujeet Starts the Fightback

The second period began with Sujeet needing a dramatic change. He found it almost immediately. Around 1:20 into the second period, Sujeet secured a takedown to reduce the deficit to 4-9. Before Kudiev could regain control, Sujeet attacked again.

Another takedown. 6-9.

The momentum had completely shifted. Kudiev, who had dictated the opening period, was now being forced onto the defensive. Sujeet continued moving forward, looking for another opportunity to attack the legs and convert his pressure into points. With just over a minute remaining, the Indian secured another two-point takedown. 8-9.

Suddenly, a final that had seemed almost beyond reach was down to a single point.

Kudiev now had one objective: survive. The Tajik wrestler attempted to manage the remaining time while protecting his one-point advantage. Sujeet had other plans.

He kept attacking. The Indian repeatedly looked for an opening, refusing to allow the clock to become Kudiev's biggest ally. Then, with just 11 seconds remaining, Sujeet found it.

He completed one final takedown. Two points. The scoreboard moved from 8-9 to 10-9. And that was enough. Sujeet had completed the comeback. The final whistle confirmed one of the most dramatic results of the Games: Sujeet Kalkal was the Asian Games champion.

The numbers tell the story of the turnaround. Kudiev had scored nine points in the opening period while restricting Sujeet to just two. In the second period, the momentum completely reversed. Sujeet scored eight unanswered points. Kudiev scored none.

The Indian's sequence consisted of four two-point takedowns, with the final one arriving when he had virtually no margin for error. It was not simply a comeback built on one moment of brilliance. It was sustained attacking pressure.Sujeet repeatedly returned to the same fundamental objective: close the distance, attack the legs and finish the takedown.

Once those attacks began connecting, Kudiev could not regain the control he had enjoyed in the opening period.

Sujeet's gold completes an extraordinary day. Earlier in the competition, he defeated Iran's Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi 10-0 by technical superiority in the quarterfinal before producing another major result in the semifinal. There, Sujeet defeated reigning Olympic champion and home favourite Kotaro Kiyooka 3-3 on the final-point criterion.

That victory earned him a place in the final. But even that achievement now looks like only part of the story. Against Kudiev, Sujeet faced the biggest adversity of his tournament and responded with the most decisive performance of the day. He did not panic at 2-9. He did not allow the clock to dictate his approach.

Instead, he continued attacking until the final seconds.

The victory also carries significance for Indian wrestling. India had been waiting for a men's freestyle gold at the Asian Games since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition, when Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat won titles. Sujeet has now ended that wait. More importantly, he has done it with a final that will be remembered for its sheer drama.

At 2-9 down, with Kudiev seemingly in control, Sujeet needed something extraordinary. He produced it. Three successive takedowns brought him within one point. A fourth, with only 11 seconds remaining, completed the turnaround. Sujeet Kalkal is an Asian Games champion.

From 2-9 down to 10-9. From the brink of defeat to wrestling gold. A final worthy of the medal.