Sunil Kumar and Nitesh Strike Gold at Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series

Indian Greco-Roman wrestling received a major boost ahead of the 2026 Asian Games as Sunil Kumar and Nitesh delivered gold medal-winning performances at the Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series in Mongolia.

The duo emerged victorious in their respective weight categories, continuing India’s impressive run on the international wrestling circuit and underlining the growing strength of the country's Greco-Roman programme.

For Sunil Kumar, the triumph carried special significance. The six-time Asian Championships medallist and Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist clinched the gold medal in the men's 87kg category after defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Salidinov 4-1 in the final. The victory marked Sunil’s second Ranking Series gold medal and his first such title since 2022, ending a four-year wait for another top finish at one of the sport’s premier international events.

The experienced wrestler once again demonstrated why he remains India’s most consistent Greco-Roman performer on the continental stage. Throughout the competition, Sunil displayed his trademark tactical awareness, defensive discipline and ability to control bouts against quality opponents.

His gold-medal performance comes at an important time as he prepares to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Having already won an Asian Games bronze medal in Hangzhou and multiple medals at the Asian Championships, Sunil will now enter the continental showpiece with renewed confidence and momentum. The success also reinforces his status as the leader of India’s Greco-Roman wrestling programme, a discipline that has shown remarkable progress over the last few years.

While Sunil's gold highlighted his experience, Nitesh's victory showcased the emergence of a new force in Indian wrestling.

Competing in the men's Greco-Roman 97kg category, Nitesh captured his second gold medal at the Mongolia Ranking Series after defeating Kazakhstan’s Nurassyl Amanaly 13-9 in a high-scoring final.

The Indian wrestler produced an aggressive display throughout the tournament, overcoming strong opposition on his way to the top of the podium. Nitesh began his campaign with a composed 3-1 victory over Venezuela’s Juan Blanco in the quarterfinals. The win set the tone for the rest of his tournament as he continued to build momentum.

In the semifinals, he faced Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar in front of a partisan home crowd. Unfazed by the atmosphere, Nitesh delivered another disciplined performance to secure a 4-1 victory and book his place in the gold-medal bout.

The final against Amanaly proved to be the toughest challenge of the tournament.

Both wrestlers adopted an attacking approach from the outset, leading to an entertaining contest packed with scoring opportunities. Nitesh consistently found ways to break through the Kazakh's defence and maintained his advantage during crucial moments of the bout.

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Eventually, he sealed a 13-9 victory to secure the gold medal and complete another memorable outing on the international stage.

The triumph further strengthens Nitesh's credentials ahead of the Asian Games, where he will represent India in the 97kg category following his successful performance at the national selection trials.

The gold medals won by Sunil and Nitesh are particularly encouraging for Indian wrestling as preparations intensify for the Asian Games.

Traditionally, India's greatest success has come in freestyle wrestling, but recent years have seen steady progress in Greco-Roman wrestling as well. Improved coaching structures, greater international exposure and sustained support have helped Indian wrestlers become increasingly competitive against the continent’s strongest nations.

The recent Asian Championships offered further evidence of that growth, with Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers securing multiple medals and establishing themselves among Asia’s leading contenders. Sunil Kumar has been at the forefront of that transformation. His consistency over the last decade has helped inspire a new generation of wrestlers and created belief that India can regularly challenge for medals in Greco-Roman events.

Meanwhile, wrestlers like Nitesh represent the next wave of talent capable of carrying Indian wrestling forward.

Their performances in Mongolia will provide confidence not only to the athletes themselves but also to the coaching staff as preparations continue for the biggest competitions of the year.

The Ulaanbaatar Open is one of the key events on the international Ranking Series calendar and regularly attracts strong participation from leading wrestling nations. Success at such tournaments offers valuable ranking points, international experience and psychological advantages heading into major championships.

For India, the double gold-winning effort by Sunil Kumar and Nitesh sends a clear message that the country's Greco-Roman wrestlers are ready to challenge the best.

With the Asian Games now firmly on the horizon, both wrestlers have given Indian fans plenty of reason for optimism. If their performances in Mongolia are any indication, India could be poised for one of its strongest Greco-Roman campaigns at the continental showpiece in recent memory.