Grappling With Legacy: India wrestling faces a new test after generations of Asian Games glory

MUD TO METAL: 1962 Asian gold winner Maruti Mane (L-R), legendary ‘Master’ Chandgi Ram and Hangzhou bronze medalist Antim Panghal Ever since wrestling made its Asian Games debut at the 1954 Manila Games, the continental arena has served as the battleground where India’s ancient martial tradition has found its voice.For centuries, the sport lived in the collective pulse of the land, cultivated in earthen akharas on beds of red clay. But when Manila opened its doors in 1954, this rustic passion took to the international mat.Over the next seven decades, the Asian Games became a great mirror for Indian wrestling, reflecting its travails, its periodic revivals and its enduring legacy, which today boasts 65 medals: 11 gold, 15 silver and 39 bronze.This golden thread of heritage stretches unbroken, tying together generations of Indian wrestlers one Asian Games after another. Eight years after Manila, in Jakarta in 1962, the continent witnessed the best of Indian wrestling as the legendary Maruti Mane stormed his way to gold in the men’s 97kg freestyle division, accompanied by gold medals for Malwa Singh and Ganpat Andalkar in Greco-Roman wrestling. In a historic performance, Indian wrestlers finished with three golds, six silvers and three bronzes – a total of 12 medals – from the Games.In Bangkok in 1970, legendary champion Chandgi Ram unleashed his ferocity in the heavyweight division to win the proverbial gold. Bangkok smiled again in 1978, crowning Rajinder Singh in the 74kg division and heralding the arrival of an all-time titan: Kartar Singh. Kartar, who dominated the 90kg category in the 1978 gold show, won silver on home soil in Delhi 1982 and topped the heavyweight 100kg category in Seoul 1986, cemented his immortality as India’s only two-time wrestling gold medalist at the Asian Games.That spirit reignited in recent memory when Yogeshwar Dutt mounted a passionate gold charge at Incheon 2014, followed by Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat’s dazzling double gold triumph in Jakarta 2018.By the time the contingent arrived at Hangzhou 2022, Indian wrestling had begun an epochal development. The sport has definitely traded raw endurance in the mud for first class technical precision.India returned from Asiad 2022 with six medals in wrestling – one silver and five bronze. Deepak Punia wrestled with huge heart to win silver in men’s 86kg freestyle, while Sunil Kumar broke a 13-year drought to claim a Greco-Roman medal at the Asiad with 87kg bronze. Alongside them, 19-year-old Antim Panghal took to the mat with breathtaking audacity to claim bronze in the women’s 53kg category. She was joined on the podium by Aman Sehrawat (Men’s Freestyle 57kg), Sonam Malik (Women’s 62kg) and Kiran Bishnoi (Women’s 76kg).The six medals represented consistency, but there was no gold. For a country whose wrestling history is littered with Asian Games champions, that was telling.The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan are therefore not just another year. It’s another chance to close the chapter Hangzhou left unfinished, with one eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Expectations rose when an 18-member team was selected after intensive trials on May 30 and 31 – six wrestlers each in men’s freestyle, women’s and Greco-Roman. After that, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) sent its wrestlers overseas for an exposure training camp. The freestyle group flew to Armenia, while the Greco-Roman team went to Uzbekistan.The stage seemed set, but then came the blow no one wanted. The doping test changed the look of the campaign.The anti-doping network has closed in, causing a devastating three-part shock. Deepanshu, selected in the 130kg Greco-Roman category, was the first to return a positive test. He was followed by Mukul Dahiya, a strong contender for a medal in the 86 kg freestyle category. Deepak, who won the 67kg Greco-Roman event, was also caught in the drug web.For the WFI, the absence of any single female wrestler in the doping controversy was a significant relief.Now whittled down to fifteen, the team heading to Aichi-Nagoya will be keen to salvage some pride. Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat (57kg) will lead the men’s freestyle event along with Sujeet Kalkal (65kg), Sagar Jaglan (74kg), Deepak Punia (97kg) and Rajat Ruhal (125kg). In Greco-Roman, Sumit Dalal (60kg), Aman Baroniya (77kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg) and Nitesh Siwach (97kg) will take to the mat. And in the women’s freestyle, Indian hopes are carried by Dipanshi (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg) and Priya Malik (76kg).