Sujeet Kalkal
 Kalkal at the 2022 Tunis Ranking Series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality |  Indian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 December 2003 Sonipat, Haryana, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Freestyle wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Sujeet Kalkal (born 15 March 1999) is an Indian freestyle wrestler from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana.[1] Competing primarily in the 65 kg and 70 kg weight categories, he has earned recognition for his performances in international and national competitions.[2][3][4][1]
Personal life
Sujeet was Trained by his father and coach, Dayanand Kalkal, Sujeet has focused on improving his strength and attacking skills, overcoming a prior ankle injury.[5][6] His solid defense and improved mat movement have made him a strong contender in the 65 kg category, filling the void left by Bajrang Punia.[7]
Career
Kalkal rose to prominence with a gold medal in the 65 kg category at the 2022 U23 Asian Championships.[8]
In 2024, he won a bronze medal in the 70 kg category at the U23 World Wrestling Championships, contributing to India's tally of nine medals.[9][10] His performance at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships selection trials in Lucknow showcased his counter-attacking skills, defeating opponents like Anuj (10-0) and Vishal Kaliraman (8-4) to secure his spot in the 65 kg category for the Zagreb event.[11][12]
Kalkal's notable victories include an 8-2 win over American wrestler John Michael Diakomihalis in a 2023 World Ranking Series event.[13]
He has been vocal about the need for fair trial processes, criticizing direct entries for established wrestlers like Bajrang Punia for the 2023 Asian Games.[14]
References
- ^ a b Selvaraj, Jonathan (2025-08-04). "How a missed chance became motivation: Sujeet Kalkal's rise in wrestling". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ "Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal Make The Cut For World Wrestling Championships". News18. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Bureau, Sports (2025-07-18). "Ranking series wrestling: Asian U-23 champion Sujeet Kalkal secures gold". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Wrestling World Championship Trials: Sujeet Kalkal brings sharp counter-attacking speed to stacked 65kg field ahead of Worlds". The Indian Express. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Mirza, Firoz (2024-03-11). "Losing court battle last year to winning trials for Asian Olympic Games qualifier: Wrestler Sujeet's story". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Sujeet Kalkal - a young challenger in Bajrang's weight category". Hindustan Times. 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Mirza, Firoz (2025-03-16). "Wrestler Sujeet restarts Olympic quest with qualification for Asian meet". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Bureau, Sports (2025-07-18). "Ranking series wrestling: Asian U-23 champion Sujeet Kalkal secures gold". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ India, Press Trust of (2024-10-28). "U23 World Championship: Chirag Chikkara becomes 2nd Indian male wrestler to win gold". India Today. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ https://www.olympics.com/en/news/u23-world-wrestling-championships-2024-india-medal-winners-list
- ^ Bureau, Sports (2025-08-04). "Indian team". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal Make The Cut For World Wrestling Championships". News18. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "U23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal questions trial exemption for Bajrang Punia". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Asian Games: Sujeet Kalkal questions trial exemption granted to Bajrang Punia". The Times of India. 2023-07-19. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-08-06.