Manisha created history for India after winning its first-ever Women's Wrestling gold medal at the World Championships.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 30) -- After two failed attempts to get its first-ever women's world champion at 2026 World Championships in Astana, India finally got its historic gold medal as MANISHA (IND) won gold medal at the 59kg.
Manisha achieved the historic result in incredible manner, coming back from a 6-0 deficit against Abigail NETTE (USA) in the final, winning 8-6 for the gold medal.
"Can’t feel anything. I’ve been waiting for a long time for this moment," Manisha said. "From 2022 I’ve been writing that I would be world champion. This was my dream that I would be the first Indian woman to become a world champion. Today that dream has come true. I want to continue with this dream."
Earlier in the 2026 World Championships, NEELAM (IND) at 50kg and KAJAL (IND) at 76kg, tried to become world champions but both fell short in the finals. ANSHU (IND) was the only previous Indian to reach a world final in Women's Wrestling when she did that in 2021.
"When Kajal made the final, everyone was saying that she’s winning a gold. Easy gold," she said. "But I think maybe god wanted to make me the first champion. Maybe this is the reward of my tapasya. For me wrestling is like worship. The way I feel about my father. That’s how I feel about wrestling."
Meanwhile, Everest LEYDECKER (USA) provided the victory that eventually gave the United States the team title, scoring a 2-point defensive exposure in the second period of the 55kg final that clinched a 4-1 win over Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR).
The U.S. finished with 137 points, two points ahead of Japan which had 135 points. China was third with 121 points. This is the U.S. first team title in Women's Wrestling since 1999.
"It just makes it even better knowing that that win pushed Team USA to the team title," Leydecker said. "I was keeping track of it. I was like, OK, one more win and we secure it. And then Japan won the bronze-medal match and they were in the lead. But knowing that me winning clinched the title, it's just crazy."
Wrestling in the 59kg final, Manisha got dumped for four points by Nette but India challenged that call only to lose and give another point to Nette. A caution against Manisha extended Nette's lead to 6-0. But Manisha got a stepout before the break to get one point on board.
But Manisha then mounted a comeback first with a takedown against Nette which the United States challenged saying that the referee whistled to stop the bout. The challenge was lost, giving one more point to Manisha and position in par terre.
From 6-4, Manisha managed to turn Nette using a gut-wrench for two points and tried holding Nette for the fall but failed to do so.
"Bharandaaj [gut-wrench] is my favorite move," she said. "It’s been my favourite for some time now. When I got that move, I felt I was going to get to 10 points just like that or even pin her. But she got out of that position. At that time I thought, how did that happen? Then when the bout restarted I got her down."
Nette then went on trying to defend her 6-6 criteria lead but Manisha scored a pressure takedown and took a 8-6 lead that she defended to win the historic gold medal.
"I think that’s my strong point," she said. |If anyone comes to the red zone, I can finish that shot. No matter who it is. When I get them to that red zone then I always finish that shot."
Manisha is the second world champion for India in wrestling after Sushil KUMAR (IND), who won the Freestyle 66kg gold medal at the 2010 World Championships.
"I made my first senior team in 2022. I follow Sushil. I follow Sadulaev and Yazdani. I wanted to experience what this belt was. I just wanted to win a belt," she said.
Another reason for the former Asian champion to be emotional was completing her late father's wish of winning the gold medal. She even carried a photo of her father to the final.
"I’ve always been my father's favorite," she said. "We are two sisters and a brother but I think my father loved me the most. The first time I went to a [sports] hostel, I would always think I heard his voice. Like he was calling me. I don’t think I’ve have that connection. I always hear his voice. I can’t explain it. It’s like he is inside me and talks to me."
Manisha now wants to repeat as the world champion next year in Las Vegas but in the Olympic weight category 57kg, and wants more Indian wrestlers to win gold now that the barrier has been broken.
"Next year is very important," she said. "I will try my best to win the world belt in 57kg. I think next time Indian girls won’t be scared when they get to the final or come under pressure whether they win a medal or not. I think their mind will relax now. Hope has come in."
At 55kg, Leydecker, last year’s world U20 champion, gained an activity point the first period, then Klivchutska and her each received one to leave the U.S. wrestler up 2-1.
As Klivchutska put the pressure on, Leydecker responded by gaining the match-clinching tilt, making her a senior world champion at the tender age of 19.
The win came two weeks after Leydecker ended up with a bronze medal at the World U23 Championships in Las Vegas. The loss to Gerda TEREK (HUN) in Las Vegas was Leydecker's first in international wrestling.
"It's crazy. I feel I should have been talking to you two weeks ago," Leydecker said. "It was so bittersweet. I wanted the U23 gold. I just got caught. I knew I was the best in the world. It's just so surreal knowing that I'm just 19 years old, I still have another U20. I want to be able to do all three in one year. I still have next year to do that."
In the bronze medal matches, both Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) and Nagisa HARADA (JPN) won one-sided affairs that did not go the distance.
Verbina added to her silver medal from last year when she went on a second-period splurge to defeat Tuba DEMIR (TUR) 11-0 with 37 seconds to spare.
Nagisa built up an 8-0 lead in the first period against Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) before whizzering her over to record a fall at 4:11.
At 59kg, European champion Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) picked up her second straight world medal with a dramatic 7-6 victory over Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) at 59kg.
Vynnyk, the silver medalist a year ago, was holding a 4-2 lead in the second period when European bronze medalist Lipatova reached back and flung Vynnyk to the mat for 4. Vynnyk reversed after hitting, cutting the gap to 6-5.
Vynnyk then secured a defensive exposure for 2, then held on for the victory.
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) used an arm bar to turn over Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), building up an 8-0 lead before securing a fall just inside the 3-minute mark for her first senior world medal.
RESULTS
55kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Everest LEYDECKER (USA) df. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR), 4-1
BRONZE: Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR) by TS, 11-0, 5:23
BRONZE: Nagisa HARADA (JPN) df. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) by Fall, 4:11 (10-0)
59kg (18 entries)
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Abigail NETTE (USA), 8-6
BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS), 7-6
BRONZE: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) by fall, 2:59 (8-0)
Senior World Championships • Astana, Kazakhstan