Manisha Bhanwala creates history, becomes India's first-ever women's world wrestling champion

NEW DELHI: Indian wrestling has a new history-maker! Manisha Bhanwala produced a sensational performance to clinch the gold medal in the women's 59kg category at the World Wrestling Championships on Friday, becoming India's first-ever women's world champion.

In a breathtaking gold medal bout, Manisha overturned a daunting 0-6 deficit to defeat Pan American champion Abigail Nette 8-6. Refusing to surrender despite falling behind early, the Indian wrestler mounted a remarkable comeback to turn the contest on its head and secure a historic victory.

The triumph marks a landmark moment for Indian wrestling, particularly for the women's game, which has steadily strengthened its presence on the international stage. Manisha's achievement also ends India's 16-year wait for a senior world champion. The country's last world title had come through Sushil Kumar, who won gold at the 2010 World Wrestling Championships.

Her victory comes after a memorable campaign for Indian women's wrestling in Astana, Kazakhstan. Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) had already scripted history by reaching the finals and securing silver medals. It was the first time two Indian women had competed in finals at the same edition of the senior World Championships. Until this edition, Anshu Malik's silver medal in the 57kg category at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo had stood alone as an Indian woman's runner-up finish at the senior championships.

Neelam and Kajal changed that narrative with their impressive double-silver finish. Manisha has now taken the breakthrough a step further, becoming the first Indian woman to win a world title at the senior championships. Trailing by six points against Nette, Manisha displayed extraordinary resilience and determination to fight her way back into contention. Her 8-6 victory will be remembered as one of the defining moments in Indian women's wrestling. From Neelam and Kajal's historic silver medals to Manisha's golden triumph, Indian women wrestlers have delivered a powerful statement on the world stage.