Wrestling’s Next Star? Sujeet Kalkal Aims To Make Big At Asian Championship And 2028 Olympics- Exclusive

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has finally set the stage for the much-awaited Asian Championships selection trials, scheduled for March 15 at Delhi's IGI Stadium.

With the Asian Championships starting on March 25 in Amman, Jordan, wrestlers like Sujeet Kalkal are looking to make a lasting impression.

Sujeet Kalkal, the 23-year-old wrestler, recently secured a gold medal in the 65kg category at the Senior Federation Cup in Phagwara.

In an exclusive interview with mykhel, Sujeet shared his thoughts on the lack of competitions and his journey towards the Asian Championship trials.

"Yes, we wrestlers have faced a loss due to the lack of competitions. However, the Federation Cup taking place is a great thing, and it will be very beneficial. We've learned a lot from it. My performance in the Federation Cup was good, and now I'm just waiting for the trials," Sujeet expressed.

The Haryana wrestler also had a brilliant 2023, where he won a bronze at the U-23 World Championships in Albania in the 70 kg category. His U-23 World Championship bronze came after a thrilling comeback, where he overcame a 0-4 deficit to defeat Tajikistan's Mustafo Akhmedov 13-4. Last year, he also won the Gold medal at the senior National Championship in the 65 kg by defeating Rohit in the final.

Sujeet's technical prowess has set him apart from his peers, with his focus on refining his skills rather than just relying on power and endurance. Reflecting on his training stint in Japan last November, Sujeet said, "In Japan, I learned a lot. There were Olympic champions, Asian champions, and World Championship medalists. Training with Paris Olympic gold medalist Rei Higuchi and other champions was a great experience, and it will help me in the Asian Championship trials."

Despite not qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Sujeet remains focused on his future goals. "Yes, it still hurts that I couldn't qualify for the Paris Olympics, but I've learned a lot from this. You learn something from every loss. My focus now is to perform well in the future-that's my target," he shared.

Looking ahead, Sujeet is optimistic. "My long-term targets are to win a medal at the 2026 Asian Games and represent India at the 2028 LA Olympics," he concluded.

Bajrang Punia has mastered the 65 kg category - can Sujeet Kalkal carry forward this legacy? With the selection trials approaching, Sujeet Kalkal is fully prepared for what lies ahead and eager to take the next step in his wrestling career.