Sunil wins bronze in 87kg Greco-Roman event as India open their wrestling account

India opened their wrestling account with Sunil Kumar clinching a bronze medal in Greco-Roman 87kg at the Asian Games 2026, while Olympian Nisha Dahiya was knocked out in the women’s 68kg repechage at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center in Japan on Wednesday.

Sunil Kumar beat Philippines’ Callum Johnston Roberts 9-0 by technical superiority in the bronze medal match to open India’s wrestling account at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

It was Sunil Kumar’s second straight Asian Games bronze following his podium finish at Hangzhou 2023, making him the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win two medals at the Games. The 27-year-old Indian wrestler had received a direct entry into the quarterfinals, where he beat Tajikistan’s Muhammad Sultonzoda 9-0 by technical superiority.

Sunil then went down 11-0 by technical superiority to Japan’s Taizo Yoshida, a former Asian champion, in the semifinals.

Sunil is also a six-time senior Asian Championships medallist. He won silver in 2019, gold in 2020 and has collected four bronze medals since 2022. His 2020 title ended India’s 27-year wait for a Greco-Roman gold medal at the Asian Championships.

Nisha goes down

On the other hand, Nisha Dahiya lost her opening women’s 68kg freestyle bout 4-4 on criteria against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Pak Sol Gum.

Nisha Dahiya lost by fall to the Republic of Korea’s Park Hyeonyeong to end her campaign. Pics: X

Nisha had taken a 2-0 lead before Pak Sol Gum scored a four-point move. The Indian levelled the scores at 4-4 in the second period but Pak Sol Gum progressed on criteria after having registered the higher-value scoring move.

Pak Sol Gum’s progression to the final handed Nisha another opportunity through repechage. However, the Indian wrestler lost by fall to the Republic of Korea’s Park Hyeonyeong to end her campaign.

On Thursday, Mansi Ahlawat will compete in the women’s 62kg event, while Sumit Dalal (60kg), Aman (77kg) and Nitesh Kumar (97kg) will take the mat in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Sujeet Kalkal, the reigning Asian champion, will compete in the men’s freestyle 65kg event on Friday.  Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat will begin his 57kg campaign a day later, while Antim Panghal will also compete in the women’s 53kg event on Saturday – the final day of wrestling at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.