A historic golden moment! Manisha Bhanwala celebrates after becoming India's first woman Senior World Wrestling Champion. (Img: X)
Barys Arena: Manisha Bhanwala has rewritten Indian wrestling history, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. The Haryana wrestler clinched the historic title in the women's 59 kg category, defeating American opponent Abigail Elizabeth Nette 8-6 in the final at Astana, Kazakhstan. Her victory ends India's long wait for a women's senior world champion and marks a landmark moment for Indian wrestling.
Bhanwala secured her place in the gold-medal bout with a series of impressive performances. She began her campaign by defeating Canada's Laurence Beauregard by fall before registering a convincing 6-0 victory over Mongolia's Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the quarterfinals.
The Indian wrestler maintained her momentum in the semifinal against Kazakhstan's Altyn Shagayeva. She established a commanding 10-0 lead before pinning the home favourite, sealing her place in the final.
Facing Abigail Elizabeth Nette of the United States in the final, Bhanwala held her nerve in a closely contested encounter to register an 8-6 victory. The win made her the first Indian woman to secure a senior world wrestling championship title. Her achievement marks a significant breakthrough for the country's women's wrestling programme and adds a historic chapter to India's international wrestling record.
Bhanwala's world championship triumph assumes particular significance in view of the challenges she faced earlier in the season. She had returned from the 2026 Asian Games without a medal after losing to Japan's Akari Fujinami in the 57 kg category. She subsequently moved up to the 59 kg division for the World Championships, a change that ultimately culminated in the biggest achievement of her career.
Hailing from Haryana, Bhanwala has established herself as a consistent performer on the international wrestling circuit. She won gold at the 2025 Asian Wrestling Championships and has also collected multiple medals at the continental level.
Her latest accomplishment places her in a historic position in Indian sport, while providing a significant boost to the country's ambitions in women's wrestling. The world title is expected to inspire aspiring wrestlers and encourage greater participation in the sport.
