U-23 World Wrestling Championships 2025: Sujeet Kalkal Becomes First Indian to Win 65kg U-23 World Title

The 22-year-old wrestler from Haryana defeated Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov 10-0 by technical superiority in under five minutes to claim India’s only gold medal in men’s freestyle wrestling at the U-23 World Championships in Serbia.

India’s young wrestling sensation Sujeet Kalkal has made the nation proud by clinching the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 65kg category at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships 2025, held in Novi Sad, Serbia.

With an emphatic 10-0 win over Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov, the 22-year-old wrestler from Sonipat, Haryana, secured victory by technical superiority — a rule in wrestling where a bout ends early when one wrestler leads by a margin of 10 points, signifying complete dominance. The match lasted just four minutes and 54 seconds before the referee stopped the contest, declaring Sujeet the winner.

This triumph marks Sujeet’s first-ever World title, adding to his already impressive resume that includes two U-23 Asian titles and one U-20 Asian Championship gold.

India’s Only Gold in Men’s Freestyle at the 2025 U-23 Worlds

Sujeet’s gold medal was also India’s only podium finish in the men’s freestyle category at this year’s U-23 World Wrestling Championships. Two other Indian wrestlers competed in bronze medal bouts but fell short.

Overall, Indian wrestlers ended their U-23 campaign with nine medals — one gold, two silver, and six bronze. The Indian women’s wrestling team delivered a stellar performance, winning two silver and five bronze medals, and in the process, securing the team championship title.

The competitions featured 700 wrestlers from across the world, with events held in 10 weight categories each in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling (a style where holds below the waist are not permitted).

A Flawless Final and Historic First in the 65kg Category

In the final, Sujeet displayed technical perfection and composure as he outclassed Umidjon Jalolov, a senior World Championships bronze medallist and former U-20 champion. The Indian wrestler’s 10-0 win mirrored his previous encounters with Jalolov — he had defeated the same opponent twice earlier in the year at the U-23 Asian Championships with identical scorelines.

With this victory, Sujeet became only the third Indian men’s wrestler ever to win a U-23 World gold, joining Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat and Chirag Chikkara, both of whom triumphed in the 57kg category in earlier editions.

More importantly, Sujeet’s victory marks India’s first-ever gold in the 65kg men’s freestyle division, a category previously dominated by stalwarts like Bajrang Punia, who won silver at the 2018 U-23 Worlds before going on to become an Olympic medallist.

From Senior World Setback to Redemption in Serbia

Sujeet’s golden triumph came just weeks after a disappointing outing at the Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, where he narrowly lost 6-5 to Iran’s Rahman Amouzad, the eventual world champion and Paris Olympics silver medallist.

That bout was widely regarded as one of the toughest challenges faced by Amouzad during his campaign, as he conceded only a single point in every other match. However, Sujeet could not recover from that close quarterfinal loss and fell short in the repechage round (a second-chance format allowing those who lost to finalists to compete for bronze), losing to the USA’s Real Marshall Woods.

“It was hard for him,” said Sujeet’s coach Kuldeep Singh Sehrawat, recalling the period after the senior Worlds. “He believed he was going to fight for gold, and after that narrow loss, it took a lot of mental effort to rebuild.”

His father and mentor, Dayanand Kalkal, a former international Greco-Roman wrestler who represented India at the 2005 World Championships, played a vital role in restoring his son’s motivation. “I kept reminding him that this was not the end — that he had bigger goals ahead. The U-23 World title had to be a stepping stone toward becoming a World and Olympic Champion,” Dayanand said.

Balancing Books and the Mat

Unlike many Indian wrestlers whose careers are packed with age-group medals, Sujeet’s early journey was deliberately slow and methodical. His father adopted a unique approach — focusing on learning technique over early victories.

“Kushti karwane aur sikhane mein farak hai — there’s a difference between wrestling to win and wrestling to learn,”said Dayanand. “I wanted Sujeet to understand the sport deeply before chasing medals.”

While honing his wrestling skills, Sujeet also excelled academically, scoring over 90% in his Class 12 exams, and even briefly considered preparing for JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) before deciding to fully commit to wrestling.

He moved to Sonipat in 2021 to train under Coach Kuldeep, who immediately noticed his intelligence and adaptability. “He was always a quick learner,” recalls Kuldeep. “He didn’t have age-group medals because he never changed his age to gain advantage, but his understanding of the sport set him apart.”

A Season of Redemption and Growth

The U-23 gold capped off a strong international season for Sujeet. Despite an injury forcing him to withdraw from the Asian Championships, he rebounded with gold at the U-23 Asian Championships, and later stunned the field by defeating Paris Olympics bronze medallist Islam Dudaev at the Hungarian Ranking Series, establishing himself as a major contender at the global level.

At the U-23 Worlds, Sujeet overcame formidable opponents — two-time U-23 World Champion Bashir Magomedov (Russia) and former Junior World Champion Yuto Nishiuchi (Japan) — both matches going down to the wire. He displayed nerves of steel, scoring decisive points in the dying seconds to win 4-2 and 3-2 respectively, before demolishing Jalolov in the final.

Across all five bouts, Sujeet conceded just one takedown — against Fiodor Ceavdari of Moldova — with other points against him coming only via step-outs and passivity calls (minor penalties for inactivity).

Technical Mastery and Defensive Brilliance

Coach Kuldeep praised Sujeet’s combination of defensive acumen and sharp counterattacking skills. “He didn’t give his opponents many openings. Even when they attacked, Sujeet countered with precision,” he said.

In wrestling terms, technical superiority is a decisive victory where a wrestler outpoints their opponent by a 10-point margin, ending the bout early — a clear indicator of dominance in both technique and tactics.

Sujeet’s style is distinctly technical rather than endurance-based. “Most Indian wrestlers win by wearing down opponents with stamina,” Sujeet had explained earlier. “But my focus is on technique and timing — on scoring when the opportunity comes.”

That technical brilliance was on full display in Serbia, particularly in his semifinal and final matches. Kuldeep added, “He has all the tools. He’s strong defensively, mentally composed, and technically sound. This may not be his peak yet — his best is still ahead.”

India’s Performance at the U-23 Worlds 2025

India’s overall performance at the U-23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 was commendable, finishing with nine medals — one gold (Sujeet Kalkal), two silver, and six bronze.

• Gold: Sujeet Kalkal (Men’s Freestyle 65kg)

• Silver: Sarika (Women’s Freestyle 59kg), Hansika Lamba (Women’s Freestyle 53kg)

• Bronze: Vishvajit More (Greco-Roman 55kg), Priya Malik (Women’s 76kg), Neha Sharma (Women’s 57kg), Nishu (Women’s 55kg), and two others in women’s events.

Interestingly, Vishvajit More became the first Indian to open India’s medal tally this year, securing his second consecutive U-23 bronze in the Greco-Roman style — which, unlike freestyle wrestling, prohibits attacks below the waist.

India’s women’s contingent was the standout, winning the team championship title with their two silver and five bronze haul. Wrestler Nishu’s bronze run included a remarkable upset over 2024 World Champion Moe Kiyooka of Japan in the round of 16.

A Bright Future Ahead

With this historic win, Sujeet joins the ranks of India’s most promising young wrestlers. His father Dayanand remains cautiously optimistic. “Winning the U-23 Worlds is a big milestone, but the real test will come at the World Championships and Asian Games next year. Ultimately, the goal is Olympic gold in Los Angeles,” he said.

For Indian wrestling, Sujeet Kalkal’s journey represents more than a personal victory — it is a story of resilience, learning, and evolution. From recovering after heartbreak at the senior Worlds to conquering the U-23 stage, his rise embodies the future of India’s wrestling ecosystem — where science, strategy, and spirit unite to create champions.