Lucknow: At 23, Sujeet Kalkal has etched his name among India’s most promising freestyle wrestlers. Unbeaten through 2026 and now ranked world No.1 in the 65kg category, he heads into his maiden Asian Games with confidence, and a playing style inspired by speed and aggression.
“I’m waiting for this to happen since I qualified for the Asian Games. Sujeet is acutely aware of the legacy in 65kg. “So, I would like to continue this legacy. With preparations underway in Lucknow in full swing, Sujeet is laser-focused. There’s no doubt he’s peaking at the right time. Having already secured his spot for the World Championships by winning the selection trials, he sees the Asian Games as a personal milestone and national duty. I don’t know what will happen after the Games, so I wanted to plan in advance.”
The category has achieved an iconic status thanks to Yogeshwar Dutt (2014 Asiad gold), Bajrang Punia (2018 Asiad gold), and others.
“Har haal main gold jeetna hai Japan main (I must win gold at all costs in Japan),” Sujeet told HT in an interview on Wednesday. This would be a real start to my journey as my ultimate dream is to win gold for India at the Olympics,” he said. “It has a rich legacy…It is a matter of pride that I am also playing in this category,” Sujeet said. “Our job is to try and give 100%,” he said.
“I decided to appear in the World Championship trials here yesterday as I wanted to have a real test of my skills before the Asian Games.
His aggressive approach was evident in Bishkek, where he dominated Uzbekistan’s Umidjon Jalolov 8-1 in the final, a wrestler he’s beaten many times. He carries the memory of lows, like being stuck in Dubai during the 2023 Olympic qualifiers. “Alcaraz’s game thrills me. Yet, Sujeet remains humble. “There is no tension. There is no one stronger than me. Sujeet’s career hasn’t been without setbacks. “I didn’t win with ease. By God’s grace,” he recalled clinching the trials. He is now fully fit, and despite being n the Asian Games squad competed in the Worlds selection trials to build momentum. “Whatever is gone is gone. I don’t think about that.
Though I follow almost all the racquet games, especially the long rallies of PV Sindhu in badminton,” said Sujeet after a strenous training session at the SAI Centre here under the guidance of Georgian coach Emzarios “Shako” Bentinidis. “They are all equal wrestlers,” he said when asked about rivals like Japan’s Kotaro Kiyooka, who’ll compete on home soil at the Asian Games. “My body is absolutely fit now… It boosts my confidence,” he said. I focus on the present,” he said.
A week before the Asian Games trials, he suffered a knee injury in practice.
