Sujeet Kalkal Secures Back-to-Back Gold Medals in United World Wrestling Ranking Series

Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal has continued his impressive run, securing a gold medal at the Muhamet Malo 2026 Wrestling Tournament in Albania. This victory marks his second consecutive gold in the 2026 United World Wrestling Ranking Series, building on his earlier success at the Zagreb Open in Croatia.

Dominant Performance in Albania

Kalkal competed in the men’s 65 kg freestyle category, showcasing his skill and dominance throughout the tournament. He defeated Azerbaijan’s Rashid Babazadeh with a decisive score of 10-0 in the final.

Rashid, who had won 16-13 against Vitali Arujau (USA) in the semi-finals, could not compete in the final.

Road to Gold: A Series of Convincing Victories

Kalkal’s path to gold was paved with commanding performances. He began with a 10-0 victory over Nika Jaqashvili of Georgia in the quarter-finals. This was followed by a 16-4 win against Albania’s Andrio Avdali.

Sujeet warmed up with a 16-4 victory over Andrio Avdali, who initially scored four points against him at the start of the bout.

He then overpowered Joseph McKenna of the USA with an 11-0 victory in the semi-finals, mirroring his semi-final score from the Zagreb Open.

Previous Successes

This latest gold medal is Kalkal’s fourth in the United World Wrestling Ranking Series circuit. He previously achieved top positions at the 2022 Jahir Shaghayar and the 2025 Polak Imre and Varga Janos Memorial tournaments.

Indian Contingent at Muhamet Malo 2026

Whereas Kalkal shone, other Indian wrestlers faced mixed results. Mohit Kumar, competing in the same category, did not advance past the qualifying round. In the 57 kg category, Ankush and Atish Todkar lost their respective matches in the repechage for bronze medals. Sumit (57kg), Rahul (61kg), Siddharth (70kg), Parvinder (74kg), and Aryan (86kg) also did not reach the medal round in their respective weight divisions.

India sent a 48-member wrestling team to the Muhamet Malo 2026 tournament, comprised of 16 athletes each in men’s freestyle, women’s division, and Greco-Roman categories.

Looking Ahead

Sujeet Kalkal’s consistent success positions him as a strong contender on the international wrestling stage. His back-to-back gold medals demonstrate his dedication and skill, and fans will be eager to see what he accomplishes next.