March 28, 2025: Reetika Hooda, the reigning Under-23 World Champion, secured a silver medal in the women’s freestyle 76kg division at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 in Amman, Jordan. This achievement comes after her bronze medal performance in the 2023 edition of the Asian Championships.
In a thrilling final, Reetika faced Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan. The match was a nail-biter, with Reetika initially leading 6-2. However, as the final moments of the match approached, Aiperi demonstrated resilience and managed to edge out Reetika, winning 7-6. Despite leading for most of the match, Reetika couldn’t hold on, and Aiperi claimed victory, marking her second major tournament win over Reetika, having defeated her earlier in the Paris 2024 Olympics quarter-finals by criteria after a 1-1 draw.
Throughout the tournament, Reetika showcased impressive form. In her journey to the final, she dominated Japan’s Nodoka Yamamoto by fall, securing her second senior medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships. Earlier, Reetika had also earned a commanding 10-0 victory by technical superiority over Seoyeon Jeong of the Republic of Korea in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, two other Indian wrestlers also stood out. Muskan claimed a bronze medal in the women’s 59kg category after a strong showing. Muskan, just 17, initially lost to Japan’s Sakura Onishi in the quarter-finals but fought back through the repechage rounds, defeating Mongolia’s Altjin Togtokh to secure the bronze.
18-year-old Mansi Lather, making her senior debut at the championships, also bagged a bronze in the 68kg division. After a semi-final defeat to China’s Zelu Li, Mansi bounced back and defeated Kazakhstan’s Irina Kazyulina with a dominant 12-2 scoreline in the bronze medal match.
India’s overall medal count reached five at the Championships, with Greco-Roman wrestlers Nitesh (97kg) and Sunil Kumar (87kg) also contributing bronze medals on the first two days of the competition. However, Ankush (50kg) and Nishu (55kg) returned empty-handed after tough losses.
With the success of Reetika, Muskan, and Mansi, India’s wrestlers continue to make their mark on the international stage, with anticipation growing for more medals as the competition progresses, including the appearance of Antim Panghal in the women’s 53kg category.