Brij Bhushan Says Indian Wrestling Fell Short of Expectations at Asian Games

Former BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has said India's wrestling campaign at the 2026 Asian Games fell short of the medal tally he had anticipated, while singling out the women's performance for criticism.

Speaking to IANS, Singh said he had expected Indian wrestlers to win around eight medals, including three gold medals. India ultimately finished the wrestling competition with six medals, comprising two gold, two silver and two bronze.

Singh said the result nevertheless represented a significant achievement, particularly because India had not won six wrestling medals at an Asian Games since the 1962 edition. The country's two gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya came through Aman Sehrawat in the men's 57kg freestyle category and Sujeet Kalkal in the men's 65kg freestyle event.

Antim Panghal won silver in the women's 53kg freestyle category, while Nitesh Siwach secured silver in men's 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling. Deepak Punia took bronze in men's 97kg freestyle and Sunil Kumar won bronze in men's 87kg Greco-Roman wrestling.

Singh said Indian wrestling needed greater attention after what he described as a difficult period over the previous two to three years. He called for closer coordination between the government, sports bodies and athletes to ensure that India's wrestlers continue to progress.

He also expressed the ambition of matching the six-medal tally at the Olympics that India achieved in wrestling at the Asian Games, while acknowledging that the sport needed sustained work to reach that level.

India's two freestyle gold medals were particularly notable. Sehrawat defeated North Korea's reigning world champion Han Chong Song 11-7 in the 57kg final, while Sujeet Kalkal staged a comeback to beat Tajikistan's Abdulmajid Kudiyev in the 65kg final.

The six-medal haul marked India's strongest Asian Games wrestling campaign since 1962. The country had won three medals each at the 2018 and 2022 editions, while the 2026 campaign produced two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

On his political plans, Singh said he would not contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Regarding future parliamentary elections, he said he would take a decision when the time comes and did not commit to contesting at present.