Fight Sujeet Kalkal, Fight: How Indian wrestler turned adversity into Asian Games gold

Comebacks have always been a part of Sujeet Kalkal’s life. Two years ago, the Indian wrestling sensation missed out on the chance to compete in the Paris Olympics.

On his way to Kyrgyzstan for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament, the 23-year-old was left stranded in Dubai for three days after flooding disrupted his journey. With each passing minute, his Olympic dream grew further away. By the time he finally got to Kyrgyzstan, the opportunity was gone.

Fast forward to the Asian Games in Nagoya and Sujeet finds himself in an eerily familiar situation. This time, however, the stakes were even higher. It was the final of the men’s 65kg freestyle competition and the gold medal that was within reach was suddenly slipping away.

Against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiyev, Sujeet was losing 2-9. The clock was ticking and only something extraordinary could save the Indian wrestler.

And that’s exactly what happened.

A comeback of epic proportions saw Sujeet end India’s eight-year wait for a wrestling gold at the Asian Games.

The Indian unleashed an eight-point scoring run to overcome a 7-2 deficit and move 10-9 ahead, leaving Kudiev struggling to find answers. With the hours ticking away, Kalkal kept his composure, defended his slender lead and completed a stunning comeback to win Asian Games gold.

His victory also placed Kalkal in the elite group of Indian wrestlers. He became only the third Indian to win the men’s 65kg freestyle gold at the Asian Games, joining Yogeshwar Dutt, who triumphed in 2014, and Bajrang Punia, the 2018 champion.

But how did he do it? Was it a quick change of strategy? A mistake from an opponent? Or simply an unshakable will to succeed?

The last of them was visible throughout the match. But Sujeet revealed a much simpler mantra. He decided not to dwell on what happened two years ago. Instead, he told himself to keep fighting.

“I don’t focus too much on things that have already happened. In Paris, it wasn’t really in our hands. It was almost like a natural disaster, there was flooding and we couldn’t get to the venue. There was nothing we could do about it,” Sujeet said in a virtual interaction.

Our job is to keep trying. In the final, even if I lose, it is my duty to fight until my last breath. That’s what I did in that final. I told myself that whatever strength and energy I have left, I have to give it my all. I did it and won gold for the country.

SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ASIAN GAMES GOLD?

Sujeet counts Asian Games gold as his greatest achievement to date. Yet when asked if there could be anything to top it, the 23-year-old had a beaming smile.

He did not hide his excitement when talking about his dream of winning an Olympic medal at the same event he missed out on two years ago.

“The Asian Games gold is my biggest achievement so far. The World Championships are coming up and winning there would be an even bigger achievement.”

“But at the end of the day, Olympics is the final stage. Nothing can give you more happiness than becoming an Olympic champion because that’s every athlete’s dream. That would be the biggest achievement for me,” said Sujeet.

“MY DIWALI WINS A MEDAL”

Sujeet will now turn his attention to the World Wrestling Championship in Kazakhstan, which begins on October 24 and runs until November 1. The medal matches are expected to be played on the final day, just a few days before Diwali.

Sujeet has not been home for Diwali for the past few years. Winning a medal would be as good for him as celebrating the festival itself.

“The first thing I want to say is that for a sportsperson, every achievement is a celebration in itself. If I achieve something like winning gold for the country in the Asian Games, that’s my Diwali.”

“So far, I haven’t really gone home during Diwali or Holi because there is always some competition around those festivals,” Sujeet said.

The Indian wrestling sensation also revealed how his father told him to simply bring the gold back home and it would be as big as Diwali itself.

My father always tells me, ‘If you bring home gold, it automatically becomes Diwali and Holi for us. Don’t worry about anything else.’

“This time too there will be a competition around Diwali. I know I will compete then. So if I win gold for the country, it will be Diwali for me,” said Sujeet.

With this never-say-die attitude driving him forward, don’t be surprised to see Sujeet ring in Diwali with another medal to his name. His star is just beginning to rise.

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