Manisha Bhanwala becomes India’s first women’s world wrestling champion

• Manisha Bhanwala became India’s first woman wrestler to win a World Championships gold defeating American Abigail Nette 8-6 in the women’s 59kg final in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 30.

• Bhanwala produced a remarkable comeback in the final, recovering from a 0-6 deficit to clinch the gold. 

• She is only the second Indian overall to achieve the feat after legendary Sushil Kumar, who had claimed the men’s 66kg title in 2010.

• Bhanwala, 29, hails from Jind in Haryana.

• Her brother Rinku is a kabaddi player, while her sister-in-law Mamta Sihag is also a wrestler. 

• It was watching her brother play kabaddi in their village that first inspired Manisha to take up sports.

• Her introduction to wrestling came at a young age when her father enrolled her in a hostel because she was considered unfit. 

• Watching senior wrestlers and Indian athletes win medals gradually fuelled her ambition. 

• She won gold in the 62kg category at the Asian Championships in Amman in 2025.

• She switched weight categories several times — 62kg, 65kg and 57kg — but won the biggest prize of her career in the non-Olympic 59kg category.

• Bhanwala has set her sights on a 57kg category medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.