Manisha Bhanwala is an accidental wrestler who secured the gold in the 62 kg category at the 2025 Asian Wrestling Championships in Amman, Jordan. It was India’s first gold medal in the continental championship since 2021.
The journey to the mat started with her father’s concern towards fitness. As a concerned father, he sent Manisha to a hostel to get fitter, but thanks to boredom, she chose the mat for wrestling, bringing several laurels for the country.
“My father never had intentions for me to wrestle. But I chose that path,” she told The Bridge. “The first two years in the hostel were boring. But I stuck with it. Slowly, I began attending camps, sparring with senior wrestlers, and then I improved.”
However, her father couldn’t witness her moments of glory for a long time, as he died hours before her flight for the 2022 Asian Championships.
“He passed away in the afternoon. I had a flight that evening,” she said. “I still went. I played the tournament and won bronze.”
“The reality is I don’t feel that my father is no more. It’s a reality I have never accepted. I only feel his absence when I come home and he’s not there,” she said softly. “He was always my biggest cheerleader, and I was his favorite,” she added.
She sparred with Rio 2016 bronze medalist Sakshi Malik and event defeated her. That was moment which ignited a spark in her.
“Back then, I was just happy with getting a job. I worked in the paramilitary. Wrestling wasn’t my priority. But something shifted. I decided I wanted to become a great wrestler, and I left my job.”
From that moment, her love for the sport grew. She trained with Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and even defeated her three times.
“That gave me confidence. I started to enjoy wrestling,” she said.
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