Asian Games 2026: Can wrestlers rescue India's medal tally in Aichi-Nagoya?

The Indian wrestling contingent waited the longest to begin its campaign at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with more than half of the Games already concluded.

The wrestling competition will run from 30 September to 3 October at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Complex and will offer 18 gold medals.

India currently sits 12th in the medal tally with 48 medals (5 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze) and is struggling to come anywhere close to its record 106-medal haul from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

India has sent a 15-member wrestling team to Japan, comprising six women’s freestyle, five men’s freestyle and four men’s Greco-Roman wrestlers.

The country is expected to win 7-8 medals from the sport, but will have to navigate tough draws across multiple weight categories.

With India already finding it difficult to secure regular gold medals at these Games, the wrestling contingent does not have many gold-medal favourites and will need exceptional performances to deliver.

Here is how India’s medal chances look in wrestling after the draws:

Women's Wrestling (3-4 Medals)

India’s women’s wrestling contingent has been its strongest unit in recent years and is expected to contribute the majority of the country’s wrestling medals.

Olympian Nisha Dahiya (68kg) will open India’s women’s campaign on Wednesday, but she faces a tough start against North Korea’s Pak Sol-gum.

Pak is the same wrestler Nisha faced at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she suffered a bad injury after a gruelling quarterfinal bout.

If Nisha gets past Pak, she is likely to meet two-time Olympic medallist Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the semi-finals.

Fellow Olympian Antim Panghal (53kg) appears to have the most favourable draw among the Indian women. Her first major challenge will be against China’s Zhang Jin.

Zhang has given Antim several close contests in the past but is yet to beat her, trailing 0-3 in their head-to-head. If Antim maintains her record, she could reach the final.

Former Asian champion Manisha Bhanwala (57kg) has also been handed a difficult path. She is likely to face Japanese star Akari Fujinami in the quarterfinals, a wrestler who remains undefeated in her professional career.

The two young Indian wrestlers, Priya Malik (76Kg) and Dipanshi (50Kg), are also facing tough opponents in the first round.

Priya will take on three-time world medallist Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan, while Dipanshi faces two-time Olympic medalist Yui Susaki of Japan.

Mansi Ahlawat (62kg) has a comparatively easier draw till semis, where she could potentially meet Japan’s two-time world champion, Nonoka Ozaki.

She starts her campaign against Irina Kuznetsova, against whom she holds a 2-0 head-to-head record and will be favourite once again.

Overall, India may end up with 2-3 bronze medals in women's wrestling and a potential silver/gold medal for Antim Panghal.

Men's Wrestling (4-5 medals)

Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat (57kg) has a bye in the first round, but his potential second-round opponent is fellow Paris medallist Gulomjon Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.

The reigning world medallist Abdullaev pinned Aman in their only previous meeting at the 2024 Olympic qualifier and remains a major threat.

If Aman navigates that tricky second-round clash, he could emerge as one of the favourites for the title alongside North Korea’s Han Chong-song, who is placed in the upper half of the draw.

In-form Sujeet Kalkal (65kg) is also among the medal favourites. However, to convert it into gold, he will likely have to overcome pre-tournament favourite and Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan in the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Former world medallist Deepak Punia (97kg) has a relatively easier draw and is expected to face Bahrain’s Magomed Sharipov in the semis, against whom he holds a 1-1 head-to-head record.

Meanwhile, Sagar Jaglan (74kg) and Rajat Ruhal (125kg) face tough first-round opponents in former Asian Games champion Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga of Mongolia and reigning Asian medallist Kassimbek of Kazakhstan, respectively.

India will have at least hope for three medals from men's freestyle and a potential gold medal from Aman Sehrawat if he can find his best form.

India will also look for a couple of medals in Greco-Roman from Sunil Kumar (87kg) and Nitesh Siwach (97kg), both of whom have been handed favourable draws.

Sunil is likely to face Japan’s reigning world bronze medallist Taizo Yoshida. Even if he loses that bout, he will remain a strong favourite to convert it into a bronze medal.

Nitesh, on the other hand, could make an even deeper run and will be hopeful of reaching the final, with both tournament favourites, Iranian and Kyrgyz wrestlers, placed in the opposite half of the draw.