NEW DELHI: Two years ago, Sujeet Kalkal was stranded at Dubai International Airport, watching his Olympic dream slip away with every passing hour.On his way to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Kalkal was stuck in Dubai for three days after floods disrupted his travel plans. By the time a flight was arranged, it was too late. He could not reach Bishkek in time, and with it went his chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics.Two years later, the disappointment of Dubai has been replaced by an Asian Games gold. Kalkal, the world No. 2 in the men’s 65kg category, fought back from 2-9 down against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev in the final to win 10-9, ending India’s eight-year wait for a wrestling gold at the Games.The comeback was symbolic of what Kalkal’s career has looked like since that Olympic setback. He has had to rebuild, compete through the disappointment and find a way back to the biggest stages. On Sunday, he did that with an Asian Games title.When the final whistle came, Kalkal folded his hands, looked up and thanked God. He then took a lap of the arena with the Indian tricolour draped around his shoulders, tears and a broad smile.For a wrestler who had once been denied even the chance to fight for an Olympic place, the moment carried a little more weight than an Asian Games gold.“This gold means a lot to me. Not just because it is an Asian Games gold, but because there is so much behind this medal. The last few years have had many ups and downs, and I missed a few opportunities, but I never lost belief in myself,” Kalkal told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview on his way back to Imlota village in Bhiwani, Haryana, where his parents were waiting to welcome him.
Sujeet Kalkal (Image credit: PTI)
The Dubai episode, he says, is now behind him. What remains is the lesson from it – and a much bigger target.“Paris was very difficult for me to miss, but that experience made me stronger instead of breaking me. LA 2028 is obviously a very big goal for me,” Kalkal said.And he is clear about what he wants from that opportunity. “Olympics mein jaana hai toh sirf participate karne ke liye nahi jaana, bhaisaab. Gold ke liye jaana hai [“If you’re going to the Olympics, don’t go just to participate, brother. Go there to win gold].”India had not won a wrestling gold at the Asian Games since 2018. Kalkal’s victory ended that wait and added another major title to a career that already includes an U23 World Championship crown, Asian Championships success and a Zagreb Open triumph.“India has won a wrestling gold at the Asian Games after eight years, so being a part of it is very special for me. This medal reminds me that if you keep working hard, your time will come,” he said.The road to the Asian Games gold was not easy for Kalkal. He had a challenging draw, but handled each bout with confidence.After a comfortable opening victory, he made a statement in the quarterfinals by throwing Iran’s Abbas Ebrahimzadehsavadkouhi from a standing position within the opening 20 seconds.The semifinal brought an even bigger test, but Kalkal overcame Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka to reach the gold medal bout.Then came the final against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev, and it looked like the toughest challenge of them all.Instead of allowing the deficit to affect him, Kalkal fought his way back into the contest. He produced eight points to turn a seven-point deficit into a 10-9 victory and seal the Asian Games title.“The simple plan was to wrestle my own way and not be impressed by my opponent’s name. Whether he is an Olympic champion, a world champion or anyone else, everyone starts from zero on the mat. I just trusted my preparation and my strength. I knew that if I executed my best, I could beat anyone. Instead of thinking too much during the match, I just had to fight for every single point,” he said.
Sujeet Kalkal during his gold medal bout (Image credit: PTI)
Kalkal also dedicated the gold to the country and remembered his father, who stood by him throughout his journey.“I dedicate this gold to the whole of India. Of course, my first call was to my father. He has supported me tremendously throughout this journey, and without his support, it would have been impossible for me to reach this point. His support will always remain with me,” the Indian wrestler said.The final also reflected the mental change Kalkal says came from the disappointment of 2024.“Fear may never completely go away, but now I know how to fight with fear. When you go through tough situations in life, small things stop bothering you. What happened in Dubai, missing the Olympic qualifiers – every experience taught me something,” the Indian wrestler said.“Now I don’t run away from pressure. I enjoy pressure because those are the moments when you realise how strong you actually are,” Kalkal said.The Asian Games gold now joins an already impressive list of achievements for Kalkal, but he is not dwelling on the medals he has already won. The next target is Los Angeles. And this time, he wants to get there on his own terms.“Gold ke liye jaana hai.”
