Meenakshi has secured her final spot in the ongoing 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships campaign with a win. On Thursday, April 9, she stunned South Korea’s Seo Young Park in the women’s 53kg event. After trailing at 0-2 she fought back until the last 30 seconds to secure a four-point throw and book her semifinals and a gold medal bout.
She is the first Indian woman ever to reach the final of the continental championships this season. The former U-23 Asian champion, will next face China’s Jin Zhang in the finals scheduled on Friday, April 10. Earlier she had stunned her national selection trials last month defeating Antim Pangal.
Meanwhile, Hansika Lamba and Neha won bronze each in women’s 55kg and women’s 59kg respectively. While Hansika defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Aruuke Kyzy by 6-1 in the bronze medal match. Neha took down Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkuu by 10-4.
Both Hansika and Neha have now taken India’s total medal tally at the 2026 Asian Championships to seven. Earlier, in the event the Greco Roman wrestlers had won five medals.
A total of 30 Indian wrestlers, 10 each from women’s, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman categories are competing in the tournament. The Asian Wrestling Championship 2026 had begun on April 6 and will continue until 12. Only the Women’s freestyle wrestling had started from Wednesday, April 8.
Indian Squad for Asian Wrestling Championships 2026
Women’s Freestyle –
Neelam Sirohi (50kg), Meenakshi Goyat (53kg), Hansika Lamba (55kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Neha Sangwan (59kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Monika (65kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Harshita (72kg), Kajal Dhochak (76kg)
Greco-Roman –
Lalit (55kg), Sahil (60kg), Sunny (63kg), Sachin Sehrawat (67kg), Anil (72kg), Aman (77kg), Prince (82kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Nitesh (97kg), Joginder Rathi (130kg)
Men’s Freestyle –
Ankush (57kg), Aman Sehrawat (61kg), Sujeet Kalkal (65kg), Abhimanyou (70kg), Jaideep (74kg), Sandeep Mann (79kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg), Punit Kumar (92kg), Vicky (97kg), Dinesh (125kg)
