Astana, Kazakhstan: Indian wrestling witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi became the first pair of Indian women to reach the U20 World Championships finals in the same edition. Their remarkable achievement sets a new benchmark for women's wrestling in the country.

Kajal, competing in the 76kg category, is set to face Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva for the gold medal. Meanwhile, Neelam will battle Japan’s Yui Susaki in the 50kg final. This double success builds on the path forged by Anshu Malik, who in 2021 became the first Indian woman to reach a World Championships final, securing a silver medal.

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India, expressed immense pride: “Having two Indian women in the World Championships finals is a proud moment for Indian wrestling. Kajal’s comeback showed tremendous belief and courage, while Neelam’s performance reflected her preparation and composure. Their success is a credit to the wrestlers, their coaches, and everyone supporting them. We wish both athletes the very best as they compete for gold.”

For 18-year-old Kajal, a two-time U20 world champion, this marks an impressive transition to the senior stage. In her senior World Championships debut, she staged a stunning comeback from 1-7 down to defeat Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy 10-7 in the semifinals. Neelam, 26, secured her final berth with a convincing 7-3 semifinal win against Kazakhstan’s Zeinep Bayanova. These finalists now have the opportunity to transform a historic day into India’s first world title in this category.

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