Sujeet Kalkal’s 24-Match Winning Streak Ends in Heartbreaking World Championships Exit

India's search for another men's wrestling world champion will have to wait, as Sujeet Kalkal suffered a heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat in the men's 65kg category on Thursday. The Indian wrestler went down 3-3 on criteria against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, bringing an extraordinary 24-match unbeaten run to an end.

For Sujeet, the defeat was a painful interruption to a remarkable period of dominance. The Indian had established himself among the leading names in his weight category, collecting seven titles over the past year, including the U23 World Championships, the 2026 Asian Championships and the Asian Games.

His last defeat before this setback had come in the repechage round of the World Championships in Zagreb last year. Thursday's result not only ended his impressive winning streak but also dashed India's hopes of seeing a second male wrestler win a senior World Championships title after Sushil Kumar's historic triumph in 2010.

The result was particularly agonising because Sujeet had already demonstrated his ability to overcome Kudiev on the biggest stage. At the Asian Games, the Indian produced a stunning comeback from a 2-9 deficit, scoring eight consecutive points to claim the gold medal.

This time, however, the Tajik wrestler managed to turn the tables in a contest that went down to the final seconds.

Sujeet began his campaign confidently, registering a commanding 12-1 victory over Switzerland's Nino Leutert by technical superiority. He followed it up with a composed 4-0 win against Belarus' Islam Guseinov to book his place in the quarterfinals.

With two convincing victories behind him, the Indian entered his clash against Kudiev looking to move one step closer to the podium. Instead, he encountered the most difficult moment of his campaign.

The quarterfinal started cautiously, with Sujeet conceding the opening point for passivity. However, he responded at the right moment, executing a takedown just five seconds before the end of the first period to take a 2-1 lead.

Kudiev was subsequently penalised for passivity, allowing Sujeet to extend his advantage to 3-1 and strengthen his position in the closely contested encounter.

But the final 30 seconds transformed the bout into a nerve-racking battle that neither wrestler could afford to lose.

Sujeet attempted a takedown near the edge of the mat but was unable to put Kudiev in a danger position. The Tajik wrestler seized the opportunity to counter with a takedown of his own.

The mat referee initially did not award Sujeet two points for his attempted move, but the chair umpire intervened and granted the Indian the points. Kudiev was also awarded a point for a step-out, leaving Sujeet ahead 5-2 on the scoreboard.

The Tajik corner immediately challenged the decision, and the review proved decisive. Sujeet's two points were overturned, while Kudiev received two points for his takedown, bringing the score level at 3-3.

With the contest tied, the outcome came down to the criteria rule. Since Kudiev had scored the last point, the advantage went to the Tajik wrestler.

Sujeet desperately needed a decisive scoring move in the closing moments, but Kudiev held firm to secure the victory and end the Indian's hopes of reaching the semifinals.

The defeat will undoubtedly hurt Sujeet, considering the consistency and confidence he had displayed throughout the past year. Seven titles and 24 consecutive victories had underlined his credentials as a serious contender for senior World Championships glory.

His achievements, including the Asian Games gold medal, had raised hopes that he could become the next Indian male wrestler to conquer the senior world stage.

Instead, a razor-thin decision against a familiar opponent has left him searching for his maiden senior World Championships medal.

For India, the wait for another male wrestling world champion continues. For Sujeet, the disappointment of this quarterfinal exit will be difficult to forget, particularly given how close he came to progressing further.

His winning streak may have ended, but his achievements over the past year remain a testament to his ability. The challenge now will be to recover from this painful setback and return with renewed determination to pursue the senior world title that continues to elude him.