Wrestling World Championships 2026: Sujeet Kalkal Wins 65kg Trial, Asian Games-Bound Wrestlers Face Further Tests

World No. 1 Sujeet Kalkal secured the men’s 65kg freestyle title at the national selection trials in Lucknow on Tuesday, earning the top position in a competitive field ahead of the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The World Championships are scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1, with India’s wrestlers now taking shape following the selection trials. Kalkal, who is also set to represent India at the Asian Games 2026, defeated Anujj Kumar 8-3 in the 65kg final to finish at the top of the category. Kalkal’s victory adds another important selection milestone to his season as he prepares for two major international assignments. The 65kg category was among the freestyle divisions decided during Tuesday’s trials, with six freestyle weight classes producing winners.

Kalkal produced a winning performance in Lucknow to claim the 65kg position after defeating Anujj Kumar 8-3 in the final. The World No. 1 entered a competitive weight class and eventually secured the top spot, while Anujj Kumar finished second. Kalkal’s selection comes at an important point in the international calendar. Alongside the World Championships, he is also among the wrestlers heading to the Asian Games 2026, giving him another major competition to prepare for before the season progresses.

His performance in Lucknow ensured that he finished the selection process at the top of the 65kg category.

Yash, Rahul and Pushpendar Also Claim Freestyle Titles

The men’s freestyle trials also produced clear winners across the other weight categories. In the 74kg division, Yash defeated Deepak 10-4 in the final to secure first position. His dominant scoreline gave him the top spot, with Deepak finishing runner-up. Rahul emerged victorious in the 57kg category after defeating Akshay Dhere 11-4. Rahul’s win placed him first in the division, while Akshay Dhere took second position.

In the 86kg category, Pushpendar Dalal overcame Himanshu Antil 10-4 in the final. Pushpendar finished first, with Himanshu Antil ending the trials in second position. The 97kg category produced a much closer contest. Vicky edged past Parveen Kumar 3-2 to claim the top position after a tight final. Jaspooran Singh completed the freestyle winners by defeating Rohit 5-1 in the 125kg final.

The freestyle results from the trials were:

57kg: Rahul – 1st, Akshay Dhere – 2nd
65kg: Sujeet Kalkal – 1st, Anujj Kumar – 2nd
74kg: Yash – 1st, Deepak – 2nd
86kg: Pushpendar Dalal – 1st, Himanshu Antil – 2nd
97kg: Vicky – 1st, Parveen Kumar – 2nd
125kg: Jaspooran Singh – 1st, Rohit – 2nd

Harsh Wins Greco-Roman 60kg Category

The Greco-Roman trials also saw six weight classes decided in Lucknow. Harsh produced the most emphatic result of the Greco-Roman finals, defeating Lalit 9-0 to win the 60kg category. Sachin secured the 67kg title after edging Karanjit Singh 6-5 in a closely contested final. Luvpreet Singh won the 77kg category, overcoming Vikas 10-8. In the 87kg division, Rohit defeated Rohit Bura 5-2.

Abhimanyu claimed the 97kg title with a 12-3 victory over Virensh Kundu, while Joginder won the 130kg final against Gursewak by fall.

The Greco-Roman winners were:

60kg: Harsh – 1st, Lalit – 2nd
67kg: Sachin – 1st, Karanjit Singh – 2nd
77kg: Luvpreet Singh – 1st, Vikas – 2nd
87kg: Rohit – 1st, Rohit Bura – 2nd
97kg: Abhimanyu – 1st, Virensh Kundu – 2nd
130kg: Joginder – 1st, Gursewak – 2nd

The selection process will not end with Tuesday’s results in three weight classes. According to the trial structure, winners in the 86kg freestyle, 67kg Greco-Roman and 130kg Greco-Roman categories will face the Asian Games-bound wrestlers in another round of trials. That means the final selection process in those divisions will involve an additional contest between the trial winners and the wrestlers already bound for the Asian Games 2026.

For the remaining categories, the results from Lucknow provide the identified first- and second-position finishers following the national selection trials. With the World Wrestling Championships scheduled for October 24 to November 1 in Astana, the trials represent a key stage in determining India’s representation at the global event. For Kalkal, the 65kg victory also comes with the added significance of preparing for the Asian Games, making the coming weeks particularly important as India’s wrestlers turn their attention towards two major international competitions.