Punjab Newsline,Sports :
India off to a strong start in UWW Ranking Series as 41-member squad competes in Croatia
Haryana’s wrestlers delivered an impressive performance on the opening day of the Zagreb Open Wrestling 2026, held in the Croatian capital Zagreb. Competing in the United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series event, Sujeet Kalkal clinched the gold medal, while Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat secured a silver medal, giving India a strong and confident start to the prestigious tournament.
The Zagreb Open is being organised from February 4 to February 8 and features top wrestlers from across the world. India is participating with a strong 41-member contingent, including several prominent names. On the very first day, the Indian wrestlers made their presence felt with medal-winning performances in key weight categories.
In the 65 kg category, Haryana’s Sujeet Kalkal showcased excellent technique and aggression to defeat his opponents and claim the gold medal. His victory not only added to India’s medal tally but also earned valuable ranking points in the UWW Ranking Series, strengthening his position at the international level.
Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat put up a spirited show in the 61 kg category to win the silver medal. Aman fought hard throughout the competition and reached the final after a series of strong bouts. Although he narrowly missed out on the gold, his silver-medal finish underlined his consistency and growing stature on the global wrestling stage.
It is worth noting that Aman Sehrawat had earlier won a bronze medal for India at the Paris Olympics, bringing pride to the nation. More recently, he also represented the Mumbai Tigers in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) held in Noida, where his performances were widely appreciated. Sujeet Kalkal, on the other hand, is a former Under-23 Asian Championship gold medallist and has also featured in the Pro Wrestling League, representing the Delhi team.
The success of Haryana’s wrestlers at the Zagreb Open has boosted India’s campaign in the ranking series and raised expectations for more strong performances in the coming days. With several bouts still to be played, Indian fans will be hoping for more medals from the talented wrestling contingent.