World No.1 Sujeet Kalkal Ready For Asian Games 2026 After Wrestling Trials Triumph in Lucknow

World No.1 wrestler Sujeet Kalkal's rise over the last year has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 65kg freestyle wrestler once flew under the radar, but today he stands as one of India's biggest medal hopes after becoming Asian Champion, winning multiple Ranking Series titles, claiming the U23 World Championship crown and reaching the top of the world rankings.

The latest chapter in his incredible journey came at the Asian Games selection trials in Lucknow, where he booked his place in India's squad for the Asiad, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

What made the achievement even more impressive was the fact that Sujeet competed with a knee injury. "I suffered a knee injury around 15-20 days ago, so I was not fully fit during the trials," Sujeet told myKhel.

"Despite that, the trials went well, by God's grace. Over the last 15-20 days, I was not able to train properly because the injury occurred during a training session."

Despite the setback, the Asian Championships gold medallist once again showed why he is currently one of the best wrestler in the world in his category. He began the trials with a win over Rohit before defeating Nikhil by technical superiority in the semifinals. In the final, he overcame Vishal Kaliraman 2-0 in a closely fought contest.

Reflecting on the final, Sujeet admitted the injury affected his performance. "The final was a bit tough for me. Had I been fully fit, I believe I could have performed even better," he said.

"I was unable to give my absolute best because of the injury, and that made a difference. My only concern was the injury itself; I was not worried about anything else." He added further, "Before stepping onto the mat for the trials, I was a little worried that the injury might get worse."

The wrestler from Imlota village in Haryana has enjoyed a dream run in 2026. Earlier this year, he won gold medals at the Zagreb Open and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series events before becoming Asian Champion.

His Asian Championships triumph ended India's seven-year wait for a men's freestyle gold medal at the continental event, the last coming through Bajrang Punia in 2019. The 23-year-old who has competed in many international tournaments, including pro wrestling league, is upbeat after the experiences he gained.

"This year, there have also been several trials in India, and all these competitions have given me valuable experience. I have learned a lot from them, and I know there is still much more for me to learn in the future," he added.

A major development for Indian wrestling is the arrival of men's freestyle coach Shako Bentinidis. Sujeet revealed that the Georgian wasted no time in sharing his observations. "Shako Bentinidis arrived only yesterday (Sunday May 31), and we met him the same day," Sujeet said. "After watching my semifinal and final bouts, he pointed out a few areas where I could improve."

The rapid improvement in Sujeet's wrestling has been evident since last year. At the 2025 World Championships, he pushed eventual world champion and Olympic silver medallist Rahman Amouzad harder than almost anyone, losing by a narrow 6-5 margin.

Just a month later, he announced himself to the wrestling world by winning the U23 World Championships. Along the way, he defeated former U23 world champion Bashir Magomedov, former U20 world champion Yuto Nishuchi and then crushed Jalolov 10-0 in the final.

Now, bigger challenges await. "My main targets this year are the Asian Games and the World Championships, as these are the two biggest tournaments on the calendar," Sujeet stated.

"My focus will remain on these events, and I will do my best to win gold medals for India in both... "My long-term goal is the Los Angeles Olympics (in 2028), but I want to take things step by step. The first target is the Asian Games, followed by the World Championships."

From a small village in Haryana to becoming World No.1, Kalkal's journey is already one of Indian wrestling's most inspiring stories. Yet, judging by his ambition and recent performances, the biggest moments of his career may still be ahead of him.