KAJAL (IND) and NEELAM (IND) enter the finals of the 2026 World Championships at 50kg and 76kg, respectively.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 27) -- India, searching for its first-ever world champion in Women's Wrestling, will get two chances to create history on Wednesday after NEELAM (IND) and KAJAL (IND) reached the World Championships finals in Women's Wrestling at 50kg and 76kg, respectively in Astana on Tuesday.
U20 world champion Kajal, 18, defeated returning silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), mounting a comeback after being 7-1 down.
She will face four-time world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the final as the Japanese returned to the World Championships final after three years.
But it was her win in the quarterfinals over defending world champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) that caused a bigger upset.
KAJAL (IND) and NEELAM (IND) enter the finals of the 2026 World Championships at 50kg and 76kg, respectively.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 27) -- India, searching for its first-ever world champion in Women's Wrestling, will get two chances to create history on Wednesday after NEELAM (IND) and KAJAL (IND) reached the World Championships finals in Women's Wrestling at 50kg and 76kg, respectively in Astana on Tuesday. U20 world champion Kajal, 18, defeated returning silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), mounting a comeback after being 7-1 down. Medet Kyzy hit a four-point headlock throw before two for exposure. India challenged the two but lost it to give one more point to the Kyrgyzstan wrestler.
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But it was all Kajal in the second period as she scored takedowns against a tiring Medet Kyzy. She eventually beat her 10-7. She will face European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) for the gold medal after she blanked Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 11-0, in the other 76kg semifinals. After building a 6-0 lead, Alpyeyeva hit a double-leg attack to score four points and finish the bout 10-0. Turkiye challenged the call but four points were confirmed on the review and it lost the challenge, giving one more point to Alpyeyeva. NEELAM (IND) won the 50kg semifinal against Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 7-3. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari) At 50kg, Neelam controlled her semifinal against Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), winning 7-3. She got a double-leg attack and brought Bayanova down for two points which India challenged asking for four points. However, the challenge was lost and Bayanova got a point for that. Leading 2-1, Neelam hit a toss for four points to lead 6-1 before a stepout extended her lead to 7-1. Bayanova scored a takedown at the end but that was too little too late. Neelam became just the second Indian woman to reach the World Championships final, five years after ANSHU (IND) did it in Oslo. Kajal became the third a little later at the Barys Arena. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) defeated Ziqi FENG (CHN), 9-0, in the 50kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan) But she has a huge task ahead of her in the final to win the gold medal. She will face four-time world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the final as the Japanese returned to the World Championships final after three years. Susaki defeated Ziqi FENG (CHN), 9-0, in the semifinals in typical Susaki fashion, working on single-leg takedown. She did not give Feng any chance during the bout, notching up her fourth win without giving a point in Astana. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) was the second Japanese wrestler to reach the final on Tuesday after beating Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ), 11-0, in a one-sided semifinal. But it was her win in the quarterfinals over defending world champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) that caused a bigger upset.
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