Despite Losing Her Father, Manisha Makes His Dream Come True with Historic World Championships Gold

Manisha Bhanwala’s Emotional Journey: Overcomes Father’s Loss to Create History with World Wrestling Gold

For Manisha Bhanwala, winning a World Championships gold medal was never just about sporting glory. It was about fulfilling a dream she had once shared with her father, Suresh, who introduced her to wrestling and encouraged her to pursue the sport. Years after losing him, the 29-year-old wrestler has finally achieved the milestone that both had hoped for.

Manisha ended India’s 39-year wait for a women’s gold medal at the Wrestling World Championships with a stunning victory over USA’s Abigail Elizabeth Nette in the 59kg final in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday. Trailing 1-6 after the first period, she produced a remarkable comeback to win 8-6 and secure a place in Indian wrestling history.

With this victory, Manisha became the first Indian woman to win a senior World Championships gold. She also joined Sushil Kumar, India’s 2010 world champion, as one of the country’s few wrestlers to claim the prestigious title.

The Tragedy That Changed Her Life
Manisha’s journey took a painful turn in 2022. While travelling to Mongolia to participate in the Asian Championships, she received the news that her father had passed away.

Suresh was not just her father but also the person responsible for introducing her to wrestling and supporting her ambitions. The Wrestling Federation of India offered her the option of returning home, but Manisha decided against withdrawing from the competition.

She remembered her father’s advice about completing whatever she started. Despite the personal tragedy, she continued her journey and competed in the tournament.

Her coach, Mandeep Saini, later recalled how deeply the loss had affected her. He explained that her father had been her biggest supporter and that continuing to compete was also a way of keeping his dream alive.

That determination has now culminated in the biggest achievement of her career.

Four World Championships Appearances Before the Golden Moment
Manisha’s success in Astana did not come overnight. The 59kg title was the outcome of years of preparation, international experience and repeated attempts to reach the podium.

This was her fourth World Championships appearance. She had participated in every edition since 2023 but had not managed to win a medal.

According to coach Mandeep Saini, her dedication to training and willingness to work through difficult phases played a major role in her development.

At Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak, where she trained for years, her victory has become a moment of immense pride for everyone associated with her wrestling journey.

Saini told IndiaToday.in that winning a World Championships medal, an Asian Games medal or an Olympic medal is every wrestler’s dream. He said Manisha’s gold had brought enormous happiness to the entire team.

From a Fitness Camp to the World Championships Podium
Manisha’s introduction to wrestling began in Haryana around 2012-13, when her father encouraged her to attend a training camp. Initially, the objective was simply to improve her fitness, but she gradually developed an interest in the sport.

She started her early training in Jind district before moving to Rohtak and joining the wrestling setup at Chhotu Ram Stadium.

Her progress was not always smooth. Injuries, disappointing performances and the pressure of international competitions tested her patience. However, she worked on becoming mentally stronger and learned to deal with setbacks.

Her father’s death was particularly difficult, but the determination to continue the sport became an important source of motivation.

Changing Weight Categories Added to the Challenge
Manisha has also had to adapt to different weight categories during her career.

She won gold in the 62kg category at the Asian Championships in Amman in 2025. At the 2026 Asian Games, she competed in the 57kg division but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Japan’s Akari Fujinami, the Paris Olympics gold medallist.

In Astana, she entered the 59kg category, which is not included in the Olympic programme.

According to Saini, moving between weight divisions required significant changes in her training and conditioning. Reducing weight while maintaining strength and performance was a demanding process.

The support of the Inspire Institute of Sport and technical guidance from Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi also helped her prepare for the demands of international wrestling.

A Stunning Comeback in the Gold Medal Match
Manisha’s road to the final included several impressive performances.

She defeated Canada’s Laurence Beauregard 6-2 in the pre-quarter-finals before registering a convincing 6-0 win against Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-final, she produced a dominant performance against Shagayeva, securing victory by fall to enter the title clash.

The final against American wrestler Abigail Elizabeth Nette tested her fighting spirit. Manisha was trailing 1-6 at the end of the opening period, leaving herself with just three minutes to turn the contest around.

She responded brilliantly, collecting seven points in the remaining period and completing an extraordinary 8-6 victory.

The comeback secured India’s first women’s gold medal at the senior Wrestling World Championships and marked a defining moment in her career.

Indian Women Wrestlers Shine in Astana
India also enjoyed success through Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak, who reached the finals in the 50kg and 76kg categories respectively. Both wrestlers finished with silver medals.

Manisha’s triumph made the campaign even more memorable. She became only the fourth Indian woman to reach a World Championships final, following Anshu Malik’s achievement in 2021, and the first to win the gold medal.

For the Rohtak wrestler, the victory carries a meaning that goes far beyond the record books.

Her father could not be present to witness the biggest moment of her sporting career. Yet his encouragement, the lessons he left behind and the dream that brought her into wrestling remained with her throughout the journey.

After years of hard work, personal loss and four World Championships attempts, Manisha has finally completed the mission she began with her father.