New Delhi, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Indian wrestler Sujit Kalkal recently claimed a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, competing in the 65 kg freestyle category. Upon returning from Japan, he expressed his delight in enjoying his mother’s homemade churma and kheer.
During a press conference organized by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kalkal reminisced about his time away from home due to training and competitions. “I often miss my mother’s churma when I am away. As soon as I returned from the Asian Games, she sent me churma and kheer,” he said. Training in Sonipat, he mentioned that his mother regularly sends him these cherished dishes.
Kalkal has remained unbeaten this season, having also won the 2025 Under-23 World Championship and the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championship in his weight category. Earlier this year, he secured a gold medal at the UWW Ranking Series in Albania.
His journey to success has not been without challenges. In 2023, he faced legal hurdles to secure a fair trial for a spot in the Asian Games. At that time, the ad-hoc committee overseeing Indian wrestling granted direct entry to another wrestler, Bajrang.
In April 2024, while traveling to Bishkek for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers with fellow wrestler Deepak Punia, heavy rains and flooding disrupted their flight operations in the UAE, leaving them stranded in Dubai. They eventually arrived in Bishkek just before the morning weigh-in, but the organizers denied them permission to compete.
Reflecting on his struggles and triumphs, Kalkal advised others facing similar challenges to “trust yourself and keep working hard. God may take time to deliver justice, but it will never be denied. If we dwell on the past, it will ruin our present and hinder our future. Let go of what has happened.”
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