Manisha Bhanwala Wins World Wrestling Title, Fulfills Late Father’s Dream

What Happened

Manisha Bhanwala, 29, became the first Indian woman to win a world wrestling championship when she defeated America’s Abigail Nette 8-6 in the 59kg final in Astana. She rallied from a 1-6 deficit after the first period, scoring seven unanswered points in the second to clinch the title with 27 seconds left. The victory came four years after her father, Suresh Bhanwala of Jind, died in 2022; he had urged her to wrestle with the goal of winning a gold medal for India. After the win she lifted a t‑shirt bearing her father’s picture as a tribute. Earlier in the tournament she had held Altyn Shagayeva of Kazakhstan to just two points before pinning her in the semifinal.

Reaction

Manisha told United World Wrestling, “I knew I would win a medal here. I carried my father’s picture with me.” Her brother Rinku said the win was an emotional moment for the family, fulfilling their father’s dream. Coach Mandeep praised her endurance, noting she conserved energy in the final unlike her usual aggressive start. The Indian wrestling camp had been on edge after teammates Kajal Dhochak (76kg) and Neelam Sirohi (50kg) lost their finals two days earlier.

Context

Indian women have competed at the world level for 35 years without a champion, making Manisha’s triumph a historic breakthrough. Her win also follows a disappointing outing at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, where she lost a close bout to Japan’s Akari Fujinami, prompting a renewed focus on stamina before the world event.