30 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala is just one victory away from creating history at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 29-year-old stormed into the women’s 59kg final on Thursday after producing a dominant performance against Kazakhstan’s home favourite, Altyn Shagayeva.
Manisha defeated Shagayeva by fall after taking a commanding 10-0 lead in the semifinal. With this victory, she kept India’s hopes of securing its first-ever women’s senior world championship title alive.
She will now face reigning Pan-American champion Abigail Elizabeth Nette of the United States in Friday’s gold-medal bout. A victory would make Manisha the first Indian woman to win a senior World Wrestling Championships gold medal.
Dominant Performance Against Kazakhstan’s Wrestler
Manisha displayed impressive control and attacking ability throughout her campaign in the 59kg category. Her semifinal against Shagayeva was particularly significant because she was competing against the home favourite in front of the Kazakhstan crowd.
The Indian wrestler did not allow the atmosphere to affect her performance. She built a 10-0 advantage before securing the fall and confirming her place in the final.
Earlier, Manisha had defeated Canada’s Laurence Beauregard 6-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. She followed that performance with a convincing 6-0 victory over Mongolia’s Bolortuya Khurelkhuu in the quarterfinals.
Her three victories demonstrated her ability to compete against different wrestling styles and maintain control during crucial moments.
India’s Third Woman in the Final at This Championship
Manisha has become the third Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold-medal final at the ongoing championships.
Earlier, Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi had also qualified for their respective finals. Both wrestlers secured silver medals after losing their gold-medal bouts on Wednesday.
Kajal lost the 76kg final against Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, while Neelam was defeated by Japan’s Yui Susaki in the 50kg category.
Their achievements marked an important moment for Indian women’s wrestling, as two Indian women reached the World Championships finals at the same edition for the first time.
Manisha now has an opportunity to take the country’s campaign a step further by converting her final appearance into a historic gold medal.
From Jind to the World Championship Final
Manisha comes from Jind district in Haryana and has gradually established herself as one of India’s prominent female wrestlers.
Her journey in wrestling began in 2013, when her father sent her to a training camp to improve her fitness. What initially started as an effort to become fitter eventually developed into a serious sporting career.
Over the years, she faced challenges, including injuries, pressure and the demands of competing at the highest level. She has also spoken about becoming mentally stronger from 2021 onwards and learning to handle setbacks.
Training at the Inspire Institute of Sport has played an important role in her development. She has also benefited from international training exposure and technical guidance, including work with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi.
Manisha has won four Asian-level medals, including gold in the women’s 62kg category at the 2025 Asian Championships in Amman.
Change in Weight Category Before the World Championships
Manisha’s World Championships campaign has come after a challenging period in which she competed in the women’s 57kg category at the 2026 Asian Games.
Her campaign at the continental event ended in the quarterfinals against Japan’s Akari Fujinami, the Paris Olympic champion. She did not receive a repechage opportunity.
Following the Asian Games, Manisha returned to training with a clear focus on the World Championships. According to her coach Mandeep Singh, she quickly resumed preparations at the Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak.
The decision to compete in the 59kg category at the World Championships was part of her preparation for the event. Her performances in Astana have now placed her within reach of a major milestone.
Abigail Nette Stands Between Manisha and History
The final against Abigail Elizabeth Nette will be Manisha’s biggest test at the tournament. The American wrestler is the reigning Pan-American champion and will be looking to secure the world title herself.
Manisha’s technical control, endurance and ability to score early points will be important factors in the contest.
Her coach has expressed confidence in her preparation, pointing to her experience and previous international medals. The final also represents an opportunity to turn years of hard work into the biggest achievement of her wrestling career.
India has produced several accomplished women wrestlers at the Asian and Olympic levels, but a senior women’s world championship gold medal remains an elusive milestone.
With one more victory, Manisha Bhanwala could make history and become India’s first women’s senior world wrestling champion.