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Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi win silver at the World Wrestling Championships
In 60 seconds: Two Indian women reached the final of the same World Wrestling Championships for the first time, and both won silver in Astana on Wednesday. Eighteen-year-old Kajal Dhochak lost the 76kg final 6-8 to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva on her senior debut. Neelam Sirohi, 26, lost the 50kg final by fall to Japan's great Yui Susaki. Only Anshu Malik had won silver for India's women before.
Why it matters
Two finalists at one Worlds shows India's women's wrestling is getting deeper, with a teenager already among the world's best ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Explain it simply
Two cousins reach the final of the neighbourhood chai-making contest for the first time. They don't win, but everyone now knows the family's tea is among the best.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Kajal came back from 1-7 down to beat Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 in the semi-final. Neelam beat Kazakhstan's Zeinep Bayanova 7-3 in her semi-final.
Background
Kajal had already won two Under-20 world titles. Anshu Malik became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final in 2021.
How it works
Neelam was trailing 0-5 when Susaki pinned her shoulders to the mat, ending the bout by fall. Kajal's final against Alpyeyeva was close throughout.
What's next
The last women's weight classes, 55kg and 59kg, are being contested on Thursday. Rajnita (65kg) was knocked out in the repechage.
What it means for you
Watch Kajal, still a teenager, as a medal hope for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Key numbers
- 2: Indian women in finals at one Worlds, a first
- 6-8: Kajal's score in the 76kg final
- 10-7: Kajal's semi-final comeback win
- 18: Kajal Dhochak's age
Both sides
- Wrestling fans: Two finalists at one Worlds is a historic day for Indian women's wrestling.
- Coaches: Converting finals into gold against the very best is the next step.
Key terms explained
- By fall
- Winning by pinning both of the opponent's shoulders to the mat.
- Senior debut
- A player's first event in the adult (open-age) category.
The story so far
- 2006: Alka Tomar wins India's first women's World Championships medal. Alka Tomar won bronze at the 2006 World Wrestling Championships in Guangzhou, the first medal for an Indian woman at the event.
- Oct 2021: Anshu Malik becomes the first Indian woman in a Worlds final. At the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Anshu Malik reached the 57kg final and won silver, a first for an Indian woman.
- Today: Kajal, Neelam win silver at wrestling Worlds
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- United World Wrestling (UWW) is the world governing body for wrestling.
- Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan.
- A 'fall' (pin) ends a bout immediately when both of a wrestler's shoulders are held to the mat.
- Sakshi Malik won India's first Olympic wrestling medal by a woman: bronze at Rio 2016.
Likely exam question: Who was the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics in wrestling, and at which Games?