Neelam Sirohi, Kajal Dhochak reach World Wrestling Championships finals in Astana

Two Indian women, Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak, reached the finals of the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. It is the first time two Indian women have reached world championship finals at the same edition, according to reports. Neelam reached the women's freestyle 50kg final, where she will face Japan's four-time world champion Yui Susaki. Kajal reached the 76kg final, where she will meet Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Both finals are on Wednesday, October 28, in an evening session that begins at 6:30 pm Indian time. United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport's governing body, said India is still searching for its first women's world champion.

India has never had a women's world champion in wrestling, the sport's governing body noted, and only one Indian woman had reached a world final before this week. Reaching a final guarantees at least a silver medal, so both Neelam and Kajal have already won medals, and either could become the country's first women's world champion on Wednesday. Having two finalists at the same championships, a first for India according to reports, points to growing depth in the women's programme.

The 50kg final is the harder task on paper. Susaki is a four-time world champion, and the final marks Japan's return to the world final in that weight after three years, according to UWW. Neelam reached it with a controlled semi-final, using a double-leg takedown and a four-point throw to build her lead against the home wrestler, according to UWW's account of the bout.

Kajal's run has been the bigger surprise. At 18 and on her senior World Championships debut, she trailed Aiperi Medet Kyzy, a multiple world medallist and the silver medallist at the last edition, 1-7 in the semi-final before scoring nine points to win 10-7. In the final at 76kg, one of the heavier women's categories, she meets Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. A win for either Indian would be a landmark result for Indian sport, not only for wrestling.

The results also matter for the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. World championship medals bring ranking points and attention, and a strong showing gives the national federation a clearer picture of which wrestlers to back in the next cycle.

Short-term: Both wrestlers are assured of at least silver. Indian fans can follow the finals on Wednesday evening from 6:30 pm IST.

Long-term: Two world finalists strengthen India's women's wrestling ahead of the next Olympic cycle and may encourage more young women to take up the sport.

Who is affected: Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak, India's national wrestling federation and coaches, young women wrestlers across India, and fans following the championships.

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