Historic achievement: Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman to win a wrestling world championship title. She defeated Abigail Nette in the 59kg final to achieve this remarkable milestone.
A remarkable comeback: Manisha turned the match around after falling behind 0-6. She fought back to secure an 8-6 victory, demonstrating her determination, resilience, and ability to adapt her strategy under pressure.
Team success: Her gold medal was part of an impressive performance by Indian women wrestlers. Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak also reached the finals and won silver medals.
Historic Gold Ends India’s Long Wait
Manisha Bhanwala won India’s first-ever women’s wrestling world championship gold medal in the 59kg category in Astana. She made an incredible comeback against Pan American champion Abigail Nette, overcoming a 0-6 deficit to win the final 8-6.
With this victory, Manisha became only the second Indian wrestler to win a senior world championship title, following Sushil Kumar, who achieved the feat in 2010. Her triumph was also a historic moment for Indian women’s wrestling, as no Indian woman had previously won a world championship gold medal, despite several silver and bronze finishes.
A Landmark Campaign for Indian Women
Manisha’s gold medal came during an outstanding performance by Indian women wrestlers at the 2026 World Championships. Neelam Sirohi, competing in the 50kg category, and Kajal Dhochak, in the 76kg category, both reached the finals in Olympic weight categories and won silver medals. Tanu Sharma also added to India’s success by claiming bronze in the 72kg category.
This was the first time that multiple Indian women wrestlers had reached the gold medal bouts at the same World Championships. Their achievements highlight the growing strength, depth, and competitiveness of India’s women’s wrestling programme.
From Setbacks to Glory
Manisha’s journey to becoming a world champion was filled with personal challenges and sporting disappointments. In 2022, her father passed away on the very day she was scheduled to leave for the Asian Championships. Despite this heartbreaking loss, she continued to compete and won a bronze medal.
Earlier in 2026, she faced another setback when she returned from the Asian Games without a medal after losing to Olympic champion Akari Fujinami in the 57kg category.
However, her decision to compete in the non-Olympic 59kg category at the World Championships proved to be a turning point. She performed strongly in the early rounds and then delivered a stunning comeback in the final to claim the world title.
Training, Adaptability and Future Goals
Manisha first took up wrestling at the age of 17 as a way to improve her fitness. She trained under coach Mandeep Singh at Sir Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak and also worked with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi at the Inspire Institute of Sport.
Throughout her career, she has competed in different weight categories, adapting her approach according to her height and tactical requirements. She is also known for defeating Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik three times in selection trials.
Although her 59kg world championship title is a historic achievement, Manisha has bigger goals ahead. She plans to move back to the Olympic 57kg category as she prepares for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
