Manisha Bhanwala became the first Indian woman wrestler to win a World Championships title on Friday, defeating Abigail Nette of the United States 8-6 in the women's 59kg final at the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, news agency PTI reported.

Source: PTI

PTI said Bhanwala is only the second Indian to win a wrestling world title, after Sushil Kumar achieved the feat in 2010. The tournament results listing for the women's freestyle 59kg class also records Bhanwala as the gold medallist with an 8-6 win over Nette, with Mariia Vynnyk of Ukraine and Khurelkhuugiin Bolortuya of Mongolia taking the bronze medals.

Source: 2026 World Wrestling Championships — Women's freestyle 59 kg results

The run to the title

The gold completes the run reported a day earlier, when Bhanwala reached the final by pinning Kazakhstan's home favourite Altyn Shagayeva after building a 10-0 lead in the semifinal, according to United World Wrestling's report from Astana. That win had already assured India of at least a silver medal; Friday's 8-6 victory over Nette, the reigning Pan-American champion, turned it into a historic gold.

8-6Score in the 59kg final against Abigail Nette (USA)
1stIndian woman to win a wrestling World Championships gold
2010Year of India's only previous world title, by Sushil Kumar

Bhanwala's title is the headline result of a strong championships for India's women in Astana, where Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak won silver medals and Tanu Sharma took bronze earlier in the tournament.