Manisha Bhanwala into 59kg final at World Wrestling Championships in Astana

Manisha Bhanwala, competing in the 59kg category, became the third Indian woman to reach the final at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana on October 29, 2026. Her progression sets up India’s representation in the title bout.

Bhanwala had returned from the Asian Games without a medal in the 57kg class and moved up to the non-Olympic 59kg category for the World Championships. The change in weight class preceded her run to the final in Astana.

In her path to the title clash, Bhanwala pinned World championships bronze medallist Laurence Beauregard in the second period, defeated Mongolian Olympian Bolortuya Khurelkhuu 6-0, and pinned Kazakhstan’s World under-23 bronze medallist Altyn Shagayeva to secure her place in the final.

Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) earlier secured silver medals for India at the tournament. Ahilya Shinde (55kg) was beaten 9-6 by Turkey’s Tuba Demir in the last-eight stage.

In men’s freestyle action, Vicky (97kg) was defeated 12-2 by Japan’s Asian champion and Worlds bronze medallist Arash Yoshida in the quarterfinals and made it to the repechage round to remain in contention for a bronze medal. Asian Games champion Sujeet Kalkal (65kg) lost 3-3 on criteria to Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the quarterfinals; Sujeet had rallied from 2-9 down to beat the Tajikistan wrestler in the Asiad final.

In the final on Friday (October 30, 2026), Manisha will face USA’s Pan-American champion Abigail Elizabeth Nette.