Manisha Bhanwala Aims to Inspire Future Generations of Women Wrestlers with Historic Win
Manisha Bhanwala, Indias first female gold medalist at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, hopes to inspire more women to achieve greatness.
New Delhi, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : Manisha Bhanwala, the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, is eager to pave the way for more female wrestlers in India. Following her historic victory in the 59-kilogram category on October 31, 2026, she expressed her desire for her achievement to inspire others to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
During a media interaction, Bhanwala emphasized that records are meant to be broken. She stated, “I want more girls to emerge as world champions so that winning titles becomes a norm for Indian female wrestlers, not just an exception. Our goal is to break records at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
India delivered its best performance at the Women’s Wrestling World Championships, securing a total of four medals: one gold, two silver, and one bronze, placing fourth overall. Besides Bhanwala’s gold, Neelam Sirohi earned a silver medal in the 50-kilogram category, while Kajal Dhokak also secured silver in the 76-kilogram category. Tanu Sharma rounded out the medal tally with a bronze in the 72-kilogram category.
In the team rankings, India stood fifth with 94 points, trailing behind the United States, Japan, China, and Ukraine. This performance marks an improvement over India’s previous best at the championships, where they won two medals each in 2012 and 2021, which were both Olympic years with lower competition levels.
Bhanwala also took the opportunity to encourage her fellow wrestlers, particularly Sirohi and Dhokak, to remain patient and not let setbacks define their careers. She shared her own experiences with disappointment and urged them to trust that better opportunities lie ahead.
“Sometimes, the day just isn’t yours,” she remarked, referencing Dhokak’s tough competition and Sirohi’s new experiences in high-stakes matches. She reassured them that patience is crucial, as her own journey has shown that good results come with perseverance.
Having faced her share of challenges on her way to the top, Bhanwala believes that future generations of Indian women wrestlers must cultivate patience, especially as they strive to continue the nation’s impressive legacy in the sport.
