# Who is Manisha Bhanwala? India’s First Women’s Wrestling World Champion

URL: https://technosports.co.in/manisha-bhanwala-wrestling-champion/  
Published: 2026-10-31  
Updated: 2026-10-31  
Author: Rahul Roy

Indian wrestling has a new landmark. On [October 30](https://technosports.co.in/perfect-familys-dark-secrets-to-a-chicken-in-space-8-south-films/), 2026, **Manisha Bhanwala** became India’s first-ever women’s world champion at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. She won gold in the 59kg freestyle category.

## The Final: A Comeback From 0-6

Bhanwala beat American Abigail Nette 8-6 in the final. She was trailing 0-6 at one stage, then scored eight unanswered points to turn the match around. Earlier, she had beaten Kazakhstan’s Altyn Shagayeva 10-0 in the semi-final.

## Quick Facts

| Detail | Information |
| --- | --- |
| Name | Manisha Bhanwala |
| Age | 29 (born February 10, 1997) |
| Home state | Haryana |
| Event | Women’s freestyle wrestling |
| World title | 59kg, Astana 2026 |
| Final score | 8-6 vs Abigail Nette (USA) |
| Training base | Inspire Institute of Sport |

Sources differ on her hometown, with some naming Rohtak and Khel Now naming a village in Jind district.

## An Accidental Wrestler

Wrestling was not part of her plan. Her father took her to an akhada to help her lose weight and improve her fitness. She began wrestling in 2013 and trained under coach Mandeep Singh, then later with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi at the Inspire Institute of Sport.

## Her Rise Through the Ranks

| Year | Achievement |
| --- | --- |
| 2016 | Cadet World Championships gold; South Asian Games gold (60kg) |
| 2018 | World Military Games gold |
| 2022-2024 | Asian Championships bronze medals |
| 2025 | Asian Championships gold (62kg) in Amman |
| 2026 | World champion (59kg) |

In the 2025 Asian final, she fought back from 2-7 to beat North Korea’s Kim Ok-Ju 8-7. She also made headlines by beating Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik at selection trials.

## A Historic Milestone

She is the first Indian woman to win a senior world title, and only the second Indian wrestler after Sushil Kumar, who won men’s 66kg gold in 2010. Her win capped India’s best-ever women’s campaign at the Worlds. Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) took silver, and Tanu Sharma won bronze, for four women’s medals in total.

## What’s Next

Her long-term target is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and she plans to move to 57kg, an Olympic weight class.

For more wrestling and sports news, visit [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in/). Learn more on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manisha_Bhanwala).

## FAQs

Who is Manisha Bhanwala?

Manisha Bhanwala is an Indian freestyle wrestler from Haryana. She won the 59kg gold at the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships.

How did Manisha Bhanwala win the world championship final?

She beat American Abigail Nette 8-6 after trailing 0-6 and scoring eight unanswered points.

When did Manisha Bhanwala start wrestling?

She began wrestling in 2013 after her father took her to an akhada to help her lose weight and improve her fitness.

What is Manisha Bhanwala's target for the 2028 Olympics?

Her long-term target is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and she plans to move to the 57kg weight class.