Manisha Bhanwala Wins Historic Gold at World Wrestling

• 31 Oct 2026

On 30 October 2026, Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala won the gold medal in the women's 59 kg category at the Senior World Wrestling Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Key Facts

• Historic Achievement: Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships.
• Final Bout: In the final of the women's 59 kg freestyle event, Manisha defeated Abigail Nette of the United States by a score of 8–6.
• Decisive Comeback: After trailing 0–6 in the final, Manisha secured victory by scoring points through takedown and gut-wrench techniques.
• Semifinal Bout: Manisha entered the final by defeating Altyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan via fall following technical superiority.
• Host Event: The 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships are being held from 24 October to 1 November in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
• Other Indian Medals: In the tournament, Neelam won a silver medal in the women's 50 kg category, and Kajal secured silver in the 76 kg category.