U17 Wrestling World C'ship: Nikita clinches 57kg silver

India’s women wrestlers delivered strong podium finishes at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing home a silver and two bronze medals in highly competitive weight categories.

Leading the charge in the 57kg division, Nikita Sehrawat put together a brilliant campaign to reach the championship final. Facing a formidable opponent in reigning U17 World silver medalist Epenesa Elison of the USA, Nikita fought valiantly but ultimately sustained a 0-6 defeat. She finishes second on the podium, securing a well-deserved silver medal for India.

In the 49kg category, Kamna Babal showcased excellent resilience to claim the bronze medal. Following a semifinal setback against Japan's Saika Uchida, Kamna bounced back in the third-place play-off against Russia’s Irina Tsydeeva. In a tense and closely fought bout, the Indian grappler edged her opponent with a 3-2 victory to secure her spot on the podium.

Adding to the nation's tally, Garima delivered a dominant performance in the 73kg bronze medal match. After a narrow 5-7 loss to USA's Kaili Manuel in the semifinals, the former U15 Asian Champion regrouped effectively. She completely outclassed Spain's Paula Benaixa Perez, registering a flawless 10-0 victory by technical superiority (VSU) to win the bronze.

Consolidated Results

57kg: Nikita Sehrawat (India) bt Epenesa Elison (USA) 6-0

49kg: Kamna Babal (India) bt Irina Tsydeeva (Russia) 3-2

73kg: Garima (India) bt Paula Benaixa Perez (Spain) 10-0 VSU