Indian wrestler Sunil Kumar has created a historic milestone at the 2026 Asian Games, winning the bronze medal in the men’s Greco-Roman 87kg category. His latest podium finish in Aichi-Nagoya gives him back-to-back Asian Games bronze medals after his previous bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
Sunil produced a commanding performance in the bronze-medal bout against the Philippines’ Callum Johnston Roberts, winning 9-0 by technical superiority. He controlled the contest from the opening exchanges and did not allow his opponent to score.
The achievement carries additional significance for Indian wrestling. With this medal, Sunil Kumar became the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win two Asian Games medals, marking a notable chapter in the country’s Greco-Roman wrestling history.
Sunil’s latest medal also opened India’s wrestling medal account at the 2026 Asian Games. His performance came after a difficult semifinal, where he lost to Japan’s Taizo Yoshida by technical superiority, leaving him to compete for bronze.
The Haryana wrestler’s achievement follows his bronze-medal performance at Hangzhou in 2023, when he helped end a long wait for India in the Greco-Roman style. His latest podium finish confirms his continued presence among India’s leading Greco-Roman wrestlers on the Asian Games stage.
Sunil entered the bronze-medal contest determined to finish his campaign on the podium. Facing Callum Johnston Roberts, he immediately looked to take control of the bout.The Indian wrestler opened his scoring with takedowns and quickly established a 4-0 advantage. He continued applying pressure while Roberts struggled to find a way back into the contest.
Sunil’s control and scoring continued throughout the opening period. Additional points pushed his lead further before he reached the nine-point margin required for a technical-superiority victory.The bout ended with Sunil winning 9-0, securing India’s first wrestling medal of the 2026 Asian Games.
Sunil’s journey to the podium was not without a setback. Earlier in the competition, he defeated Tajikistan’s Muhammad Sultonzoda 9-0 by technical superiority to advance to the semifinals.In the semifinal, however, Japan’s Taizo Yoshida stopped Sunil’s run to the gold-medal bout with an 11-0 technical-superiority victory. Yoshida eventually went on to win the gold medal in the 87kg category.
With his gold-medal opportunity gone, Sunil had to regroup quickly for the bronze-medal contest. He responded with a dominant performance against Roberts and finished his campaign with another Asian Games medal.
Sunil Kumar’s bronze also opened India’s wrestling medal account at the 2026 Asian Games. His victory provided an early medal for the Indian wrestling contingent and ensured that the country’s Greco-Roman campaign began with a podium finish.
For Indian wrestling fans, the result also highlights the continued importance of Greco-Roman wrestling alongside freestyle wrestling. Sunil’s consecutive Asian Games medals demonstrate his ability to remain competitive at the highest level of Asian competition.As the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continue, Sunil Kumar’s bronze stands as one of India’s notable wrestling moments.
His 9-0 victory, second consecutive Asian Games bronze and record as the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to win two Asian Games medals have given the Indian contingent another memorable achievement on the continental stage.