Manisha Bhanwala Becomes India's First Female World Champion Wrestler

Manisha Bhanwala has made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a World championship gold medal, achieving this milestone in Astana. This victory comes after a disappointing performance at the Asian Games, where she had to adapt her weight category to 59kg to avoid further weight cuts.

In the final match, Manisha secured an impressive 8-6 victory against Abigail Elizabeth Nette from the USA. Hailing from Siwaha village in Haryana, she joins the ranks of notable wrestlers like Sushil Kumar. During her celebration, she paid tribute to her late father by wearing a T-shirt with his photo, marking this win as a significant personal achievement.

At 29, Manisha has competed successfully in multiple weight categories and remains focused on her goal of competing in the 57kg category at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She views her recent World title win in a non-Olympic weight as a strategic advantage, as it allows her to face strong competitors who may transition to her Olympic weight class.