Kajal Dhochak, 18, wins 76kg silver at 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana
Kajal Dhochak, 18, won silver in the women's 76kg at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, becoming India's first heavyweight medallist at the tournament in her first senior Worlds appearance.
Virender Dahiya, chief coach of the Indian women's wrestling team, compared her drive to another athlete, saying, "Sachin Tendulkar made his international debut for India at the age of 16. Why? Because of his hunger. Kajal has that same kind of hunger to keep improving," Dahiya told IndiaToday.in from Astana, Kazakhstan. Dhochak arrives at the senior level after winning the U17 world title in 2024 and consecutive U20 world titles in 2025 and 2026, and her WhatsApp profile picture features the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics logo. "Right now, the target is the Olympics," said Ajay Malik, who coaches her at the Kuldeep Malik Academy in Sonipat.
Dhochak overturned a 1-7 deficit to beat Kyrgyzstan's Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 in the semifinals before losing the final 8-6 to Ukraine's Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. The semifinal comeback secured her place in the gold-medal bout and underscored her competitiveness at senior level, even as the gold she sought remained out of reach.
Her coaching team points to confidence and aggression as defining traits. Ajay Malik said, "Her confidence is her biggest strength. Whether she is facing a world champion or a beginner, she wrestles everyone without fear. She is absolutely fearless." Dahiya described that aggression as a strength that must be managed: "Kajal's biggest strength is her aggression. She is the most aggressive wrestler I have seen. However, she can sometimes be overly aggressive, and that can become a weakness. We need to work on that aspect of her game."
Dhochak began training in her village in Sonipat district, Haryana, under her uncle Krishan Dhochak, a former international wrestler, and joined the Kuldeep Malik Academy at age 14 after following her elder brother to practice. She moved into the 76kg division at the U15 level and progressed through the age-group ranks to collect three junior world titles before turning 19.
Her daily routine and support structure are described as disciplined and family-centred. Ajay Malik said, "She has never shown any attitude about being a world champion. She behaves like a normal child. We scold her when she makes mistakes, and she accepts it. She asks questions without any hesitation and always takes feedback positively. She is very disciplined." Her father works as a driver in Sonipat, her mother is a homemaker who travels with her to competitions and even tried wrestling, and Dhochak has recently started the first year of a BA course; her diet is mostly home-cooked and Sundays are reserved for rest.
Dahiya acknowledged that the camp had hoped for gold at her first senior Worlds: "Considering what she had already achieved at the U20 World Championships and now at the senior level, we had hoped she would win gold. So, it was a little disappointing, but these things happen in wrestling. We have a lot of time to work with her and help her improve, and that is what we will do," he said. Ajay Malik recounted Dhochak's determination: "She told me straight away, 'Sir, I have to bring the belt. I have to bring the belt home.' That is the kind of determination she has. For me, she is already a world champion." For her coaches, the immediate task is to refine her defence without taking away the aggression that makes her such a difficult opponent.
Her next clear target is the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, signalled by the Olympic logo she uses on WhatsApp and reiterated by her coach's comments about the Olympic goal, while coaching staff plan to address defensive details identified at the senior World Championships.