# World Wrestling Championships: Sunil Kumar and three other Indian grapplers knocked out in opening round

> The dismal run of Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers continued at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana as Asian Games medallist Sunil Kumar and others crashed out in the first round.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Sports · **Published:** 2026-10-26 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/sports/world-wrestling-championships-sunil-kumar-aur-teen-bhartiya-pahalwan-shuruati-daur-mein-bahar-51951 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** World Wrestling Championships, Sunil Kumar, Wrestling News, Indian Wrestlers, Astana, Sports News

The disappointing campaign for Indian Greco-Roman wrestlers at the ongoing World Wrestling Championships in Astana persisted on Monday. Prominent names, including Asian Games bronze medallist Sunil Kumar along with two other grapplers, suffered early defeats in their respective weight categories and bowed out of the tournament in the opening round itself.

 

## Early Exits for Sunil Kumar and Sahil

Expectations were high from Sunil Kumar, who recently etched his name in history by becoming the sole Indian wrestler to secure medals across two Asian Games. However, competing in the 87 kg division, he failed to find his rhythm on the mat. After being penalized with a par terre position due to passivity, Norway's Exauce Mukubu dominated the bout and handed him a technical superiority defeat with a 0-9 scoreline. The one-sided affair did not even last a full round, reflecting the struggle of the Indian contingent.

 

## Disappointing Results Across Categories

Other Indian contenders in the Greco-Roman discipline also faltered under pressure. In the 63 kg category, Sahil faced a 0-7 defeat against Bulgaria's Edmond Armen Nazaryan during the qualifying round. Meanwhile, Sachin Sahrawat put up a fighting effort in the 67 kg class but narrowly lost 5-6 to South Korea's Hanjae Chung. Prior to these bouts, Lalit had come the closest to securing a podium finish for the nation in the 55 kg category, though he ultimately fell short in the bronze medal playoff.

## What this means for you
This outcome highlights glaring gaps in India's Greco-Roman wrestling infrastructure and competitive readiness on the global stage.

- **National Sports Impact:** The early exits expose technical shortcomings in the domestic training camp, pushing sports authorities to revamp coaching strategies for international events.

- **Athlete Morale:** Such lopsided defeats in initial rounds can severely dent the confidence of emerging grapplers, increasing pressure ahead of upcoming Olympic qualifiers and global championships.

## Why this happened
The struggles faced by Indian grapplers stem from a combination of technical gaps and intense international competition in the Greco-Roman discipline.

- **Technical Vulnerabilities:** Indian wrestlers struggled significantly when forced into defensive par terre positions due to passivity rulings, which opponents exploited effectively.

- **Level of Competition:** Facing top-tier international opponents like European and East Asian champions exposed the relative lack of high-intensity competitive exposure for domestic athletes.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where is the World Wrestling Championships being held?
The championships are taking place in Astana.

### 2. In which weight category did Sunil Kumar compete?
Sunil Kumar competed in the 87 kg weight category.

### 3. Who defeated Sunil Kumar?
Sunil Kumar was defeated by Norway's Exauce Mukubu with a score of 0-9.

### 4. How did Sahil and Sachin Sahrawat perform?
Sahil and Sachin Sahrawat lost their opening matches in the 63 kg and 67 kg categories respectively.

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