Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal has revealed that his preparations for the upcoming World Championships in Astana have been significantly disrupted by a series of celebratory events following his recent success at the Asian Games.
The 23-year-old, who currently holds the world No. 2 ranking in the 65kg freestyle category, secured a gold medal in Nagoya earlier this month. His campaign was highlighted by a notable victory over Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka.
However, the subsequent national celebrations have limited his ability to maintain a rigorous training routine. Sujeet explained that he has been forced to miss afternoon sessions due to constant invitations to public programmes and official functions.
"After the Asian Games, training itni acchi nahi ho payi hai," Sujeet told Sportstar. "At most, I can do the morning training session, two hours from 5 a.m. After that, I’m almost always called to a function or programme."
The wrestler noted that he had initially allowed himself a brief period of indulgence after returning home, which led to a temporary weight gain of 4kg. While he has since managed his weight effectively, the lack of mat time remains a concern.
Sujeet is now working to limit his public engagements as the World Championships approach. The tournament is scheduled to commence on 24 October, leaving him little time to compensate for the missed training sessions.
Despite the challenges, the wrestler dismissed suggestions that he is attempting to manage expectations ahead of the competition. He maintained that he is being honest about his current physical and technical readiness.
The disruption is not unique to Sujeet, as many of India’s gold medallists from the Asian Games are currently on a break. Notably, fellow wrestler Aman Sehrawat has withdrawn from his scheduled appearance in the 61kg category at Astana.
Sujeet remains determined to compete, viewing the World Championships as a more significant test than the Asian Games. He believes that success on the global stage carries greater weight and provides a higher level of challenge.
"The Games are important from an Indian point of view, but it is an Asian tournament," he stated. "The Olympics and Worlds are the most important because these are the hardest to win. It will give me a lot more joy if I win in these."
Reflecting on his past performances, Sujeet recalled a narrow 5-6 defeat to Iran’s Amouzad at last year’s World Championships. That experience convinced him that he is capable of competing with the world's elite wrestlers.
He believes he has evolved as an athlete since that encounter. Sujeet noted that he has specifically worked on refining his technique in positions where he previously felt vulnerable, boosting his confidence for the upcoming bouts.
Regarding his victory over Kiyooka at the Asian Games, Sujeet offered a critical assessment. He believes the bout was closer than it should have been and that he made several mistakes that he hopes to avoid in Astana.
While Kiyooka will not be present at the World Championships, the field remains highly competitive. Sujeet expects to face a difficult bracket, including top-tier wrestlers from Iran and Russia, with no clear favourite in the 65kg division.
The stakes for Indian wrestling are substantial, as only the legendary Sushil Kumar has previously secured a gold medal for the nation at the World Championships. Sujeet is eager to join that elite list of achievers.
He emphasised that he is not travelling to Astana merely to participate. Despite his imperfect preparation, he remains focused on the objective of winning a gold medal and proving his capabilities on the world stage.
"Yes, my preparation isn’t the best, but I will try to compete for gold," Sujeet said. "It’s not that if I’ve not been able to train well, I’ll just try to participate and come back."
The Astana event represents a major milestone in his career. With the tournament starting tomorrow, the wrestling community will be watching to see if the Indian star can overcome his recent distractions to perform at his peak.
Sujeet’s journey from a breakthrough Asian Games performance to the World Championships highlights the intense pressure and demands placed on elite athletes in India, where success often brings a whirlwind of public attention.
As he prepares to step onto the mat in Kazakhstan, his focus will shift entirely to the technical and tactical demands of the 65kg freestyle category, aiming to translate his potential into a historic world title.
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