Zagreb Open 2026: Sujeet Kalkal Wins Gold, India Bags Three Medals on Day One
NEW DELHI (TheTrendingPeople): Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal launched India’s campaign at the Zagreb Open 2026 in style by clinching the gold medal in the 65 kg category, as the men’s freestyle team secured three medals on the opening day on Wednesday.
India also won silver and bronze through Aman Sehrawat and Abhimanyu, respectively, according to Olympics.com.
The Zagreb Open marked a strong start for India’s wrestling contingent, with impressive performances across multiple weight categories.
Sujeet, a world champion at the under-23 level, dominated the 65 kg division and emerged unbeaten throughout the tournament. His gold medal set the tone for India’s campaign.
Aman and Abhimanyu added to the medal tally, reflecting India’s growing strength in international freestyle wrestling.
The 23-year-old Sujeet delivered a flawless performance, winning all his bouts without conceding a single point.
In the final, he defeated Iran’s Peyman Ali Nemati 3-0 to clinch gold.
Earlier, he outclassed France’s Khamzat Arsamerzouev via technical superiority in the quarter-finals and demolished two-time Pan American champion Joseph McKenna of the USA 11-0 in the semi-finals.
His clinical display underlined his status as one of India’s rising stars in wrestling.
Aman Sehrawat, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist, secured silver in the 61 kg category. It was his third medal at the Zagreb Open.
He registered convincing wins over Reza Hossein Momenijoujadeh (12-2) and Georgia’s Giorgi Goniashvili (10-0), and received a walkover against Palestine’s Ali Aburmaila.
However, in the final, Aman suffered an 8-0 defeat against the USA’s Austin DeSanto and settled for second place.
In the 70 kg division, Abhimanyu began strongly with a dominant 10-0 win over Tyler Kasak of the USA in the quarter-finals. He then lost 10-0 to Iran’s Sina Khalili in the semis.
Showing resilience, he bounced back in the bronze medal match, defeating USA’s Ian Parker 6-3.
In the 57 kg category, Ankush reached the bronze bout via repechage but lost 10-0 to Iran’s Milad Valizadeh. Atish Todkar exited in the qualification round.
In 86 kg, Mukul Dahiya narrowly lost 6-5 to Iran’s Ali Savadkouhi in the bronze playoff.
Wrestlers Sandeep Singh Mann, Deepak, and Chandermohan were unable to progress further in their respective categories.
India’s strong start at the Zagreb Open is seen as an encouraging sign ahead of major international events this season.
Sujeet’s gold and Aman’s consistency highlight the depth in India’s wrestling talent, while Abhimanyu’s comeback performance reflects mental toughness.
Experts believe such tournaments are crucial in preparing wrestlers for global competitions, including world championships and Olympic qualifiers.
With one gold, one silver, and one bronze on the opening day, India has made a confident start at the Zagreb Open 2026. Sujeet Kalkal’s dominant triumph has emerged as the highlight, setting high expectations for the rest of the tournament.
The focus will now be on maintaining momentum in the remaining bouts.
Our Final Thoughts
India’s performance on Day One shows steady progress in international wrestling. Sujeet’s flawless run and Aman’s consistency underline the country’s growing competitiveness on the world stage.
If the wrestlers continue in the same vein, the Zagreb Open could turn into a highly successful campaign for India and boost confidence ahead of bigger global challenges.