Haryana’s Manisha Bhanwala Becomes India’s First Woman Wrestling World Champion

Haryana wrestler Manisha Bhanwala has won the women’s 59kg freestyle gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 30 October 2026, becoming the first Indian woman to win a Senior World Championships gold. The 29-year-old from Siwaha village in Jind district, Haryana, defeated American Abigail Nette 8-6 in the final after trailing 0-6, completing a remarkable comeback on the biggest stage of her career.

The final tested Bhanwala’s composure as much as her skill. After falling six points behind, she refused to lose her shape or her belief, working her way back point by point until she moved ahead and held on for an 8-6 victory. The win capped a commanding run through the tournament, including a 10-0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Altyn Shagayeva in the semi-final, a result that underlined her form and confidence heading into the gold-medal bout.

The achievement places Bhanwala in rare company in Indian wrestling history. She is only the second Indian overall to win a Senior World Championships gold, after Sushil Kumar’s title in 2010, and the first Indian woman to reach that summit. For a sport in which India has long chased world-level success, her gold marks a breakthrough moment and a new benchmark for the women’s programme.

Bhanwala’s rise has been built across several weight classes. She won Asian Championships gold in the 62kg category in Amman in 2025 and has competed in 57kg, 62kg and 65kg during her career. The 59kg class in Astana is a non-Olympic weight, and she has set her sights on a 57kg medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a goal that will now carry added belief after her world title.

For Haryana, a state with a proud wrestling tradition, Bhanwala’s triumph is a moment of special pride. Her journey from Siwaha village to world champion reflects years of hard work, discipline and support from coaches and family, and it offers inspiration to young wrestlers across the state who dream of wearing India colours. As Haryana celebrates its newest world champion, Bhanwala’s gold stands as proof that persistence, especially after falling behind in a final, can turn a difficult contest into history.