Asian Wrestling Championships 2025: India Secures 10 Medals with Silvers from Deepak Punia and Udit
Amman, Jordan, March 30 (Sports Desk)
Indian wrestlers concluded the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 on a high note, amassing a total of 10 medals—one gold, three silver, and seven bronze. On the final day, Sunday, March 30, 2025, Deepak Punia and Udit claimed silver medals in the men’s freestyle 92kg and 61kg categories, respectively, bolstering India’s impressive performance in Amman, Jordan.
Deepak Punia’s Silver Medal Journey
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Deepak Punia faced a formidable challenge in the 92kg final against Iran’s Amir Hossein Firouzpour, a two-time defending Asian champion. Punia was defeated 10-0 via technical superiority, earning his fifth continental medal and third silver. Notably, his previous accolades, including two bronzes, were all in the 86kg division, making this his first medal in the 92kg category. En route to the final, Punia overcame Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Rakhimov in a gritty 12-7 quarter-final bout and dominated Japan’s Takashi Ishiguro, a 2021 Asian Championships bronze medalist, with an 8-1 victory in the semi-finals.
Udit’s Close Call in the 61kg Final
In the 61kg final, Udit battled Japan’s Suda Takara but fell short, losing 6-4 in a tightly contested match. His path to the final showcased his skill, with victories over Kyrgyzstan’s Bekbolot Myrzanzar Uulu (9-6) and China’s Wanhao Zou (2-0). Zou, a Paris 2024 Olympian and junior world championships bronze medalist, proved a significant scalp for Udit, underlining his potential on the international stage.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Indian Wrestlers
Mukul Dahiya reached the 86kg semi-finals but was defeated by Iran’s Abolfazl Yaser Rahmani Firouzjaei. His bid for bronze ended in a 4-2 loss to Japan’s Tatsuya Shirai. In contrast, Dinesh turned a semi-final defeat in the 125kg category to Mongolia’s Munkhtur Lkhagvagerel into a bronze medal, edging out Turkmenistan’s Zyyamuhammet Saparov 14-12 in a thrilling encounter. Meanwhile, Jaideep’s campaign in the 74kg division ended early, with Japan’s Hikaru Takata eliminating him in the round of 16.
India’s Medal Haul
India’s lone gold came from Manisha Bhanwala in the women’s 62kg division, a standout achievement for the team. Reetika Hooda, a U23 world champion, secured silver in the women’s 76kg, while Antim Panghal earned bronze in the 53kg category. Additional bronze medals were won by Muskan (women’s 59kg), Mansi Lather (women’s 68kg), and Greco-Roman wrestlers Nitesh (97kg) and Sunil Kumar (87kg), rounding out India’s tally of 10 medals.
The championships highlighted India’s growing prowess in wrestling, with strong performances across multiple weight classes cementing their reputation on the continental stage.
