Asian Games 2026: Nitesh Siwach wins historic silver in men’s Greco-Roman 97kg
Nitesh ended a 64-year wait to become the first Indian grappler since 1962 to win silver in the heavy Greco-Roman division
India’s Nitesh Siwach made history at the Asian Games 2026, by clinching a silver medal in the men’s Greco-Roman 97kg wrestling event on Thursday, October 1.
The 23-year-old Haryana native reached the final but lost 4-0 to Japan’s Yuri Nakazato at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center.
Despite Nitesh having to settle for second place, it marked India’s first-ever Greco-Roman silver at the Asian Games since 1962. Before this, Indian wrestlers had won four Greco-Roman medals at the continental tournament.
Also Read: Asian Games 2026: India’s medal winners, live medal tally, results
Two of those medals have been won by Sunil Kumar, who clinched his second consecutive bronze medal at the Asian Games at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Sunil defeated the Philippines’ Callum Johnston Roberts in the men’s 87kg bronze medal match.
Nitesh ends long Greco-Roman medal wait
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Nitesh entered the Aichi-Nagoya Games as one of the top medal contenders in Greco-Roman wrestling, having already won silver at the Asian Championships earlier this year.
He defeated Turkmenistan’s Amanberdi Agamammedov 7-1 in the quarter-finals before winning 9-0 against Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar in the semi-finals. However, the Indian wrestler could not produce such a performance against Nakazato, with the Japanese prevailing 4-0.
Despite this defeat, Nitesh ended India’s long wait for a Greco-Roman silver medal at the Asian Games.
Reflecting on his silver, Nitesh recalled his father’s message: “Honestly, I still can’t believe it, I have won a silver medal at the Asian Games. My father always told me there was no looking back once I started this journey, that I had to bring home a medal, and today, I did it for him.
“No one from my weight category had ever won a medal here before, so there was a lot of pressure, but I trusted my training and gave everything I had. I am so thankful to Inspire Institute of Sport, whatever I needed, travel, nutrition, physiotherapy, they were always there for me. Maine apne desh ka Tiranga lehra diya,” said Nitesh.
However, India’s long wait for a Greco-Roman gold at the Asian Games continues. The last Asiad gold medal India won in this discipline was at the 1962 Jakarta Games by Malwa Singh (52kg) and Ganpat Andhalkar (97+kg).
With Sumit Dalal and Aman Baroniya suffering quarter-final exits, India will have to wait another four years to end this streak.
Mansi’s bronze charge ends
Mansi Ahlawat competed in the bronze medal bout in the women’s freestyle 62kg event on Thursday. However, the Indian wrestler lost 5-2 to Mongolia’s Altjin Togtokh and saw her medal charge come to an end.
She had earlier defeated Kazakhstan’s Irina Kuznetsova and South Korea’s Subeen Jo before suffering a 6-0 semi-final loss against Japan’s Nonoka Ozaki.
What did Nitesh Siwach win at Asian Games 2026?
He won a historic silver medal in the men’s Greco-Roman 97kg wrestling event.
Who won gold and silver in men’s Greco-Roman 97kg at Asian Games 2026?
Japan’s Yuri Nakazato won gold, while India’s Nitesh Siwach won silver after a 4-0 defeat in the final.
How many Greco-Roman medals has India won at the Asian Games?
Before Nitesh Siwach’s silver, India had won four Greco-Roman medals at the Asian Games. His silver became India’s first-ever Greco-Roman silver at the continental tournament in 64 years.
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