Manisha Bhanwala became India’s first woman world champion in wrestling, winning the 59kg title at the World Championships in Astana. She beat American Abigail Nette 8-6 in the final after trailing 6-0, scoring the last eight points of the bout.
Astana, Kazakhstan: No Indian woman had ever stood on the top step of a senior World Championships podium. On Friday, Manisha Bhanwala, 29, changed that. Her 59kg gold also made her only the second Indian wrestler of either gender to win a senior world title, after Sushil Kumar won the men’s 66kg freestyle crown in 2010.
Down 6-0, then eight straight
The final began badly. Nette, of the United States, raced into a 6-0 lead, helped by an early four-point throw, and Bhanwala looked to be heading for another near miss. Then the match turned. Bhanwala scored a takedown early in the second period and followed it with a gut wrench that levelled the bout at 6-6. A two-point move put her ahead 8-6, and she defended that lead through the closing seconds to the final whistle. She scored all eight of her points after falling behind.
Why this gold stands apart
Indian women had been closing in on this moment for years. In 2021 Anshu Malik became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final, and she took silver. This week in Astana, Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) also won silver medals. Bhanwala’s win turned that run of near misses into the first gold.
It lands in a month that has been busy for Indian wrestling. Vishvajit More won U23 World silver in Las Vegas earlier in October.
From Belgrade to the top
Bhanwala’s route to the top was not smooth. She finished 24th at the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade at 62kg. Senior Asian Championships bronze medals followed in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and in 2025 she won Asian Championships gold at 62kg in Amman. Friday’s gold, at 59kg, is the biggest result of her career.
Result (Friday 30 October 2026, World Wrestling Championships, Astana, women’s freestyle 59kg final):
Manisha Bhanwala (India) bt Abigail Nette (USA) 8-6
