New Delhi, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar is determined to upgrade his Asian Games medal from bronze to gold when he competes at the 2026 edition, with the 87kg grappler already looking beyond the continental event towards his next Olympic qualification campaign.
Sunil won a bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022 and is now focused on finishing on top of the podium. His journey began with wrestling in his village, where the sport initially started as an activity he simply enjoyed before developing into a larger ambition of representing India.
“I started wrestling in my village, and in the beginning, it was just something I enjoyed doing. But as I grew and started competing, I began to think that I wanted to do something for my country, not just for myself. That thought has stayed with me ever since, and it is what pushes me even today,” Sunil said.
The wrestler said a recent training camp in Uzbekistan provided valuable preparation ahead of the Asian Games. He trained alongside several high-level Uzbek wrestlers, including some gold medallists from the 2022 Games.
“My full focus right now is on winning a gold medal for the country at the Asian Games. Everything I am doing is working towards that one goal. We recently had a training camp in Uzbekistan, and it went very well,” he said.
“The Uzbek wrestlers are very good, and there were a few gold medallists from 2022 training there as well. Training alongside wrestlers of that level pushed all of us to get better,” he added.
Sunil has also had to overcome injury setbacks during his career. He underwent knee surgery last year and acknowledged that the possibility of injury remains a concern for every wrestler, regardless of experience.
“I had knee surgery last year, so I know what it feels like to go through an injury. The fear of injury is always there at the back of your mind; no wrestler can say that they don’t feel it,” he said.
He added that dealing with such risks was part of competing at the highest level and that every athlete carries some degree of that fear.
With the Asian Games his immediate priority, Sunil is already looking towards the next stage of his career. He plans to begin focused Olympic preparation in 2027 when the qualification events get underway.
“Once the Asian Games are done, my preparation for the Olympics will begin properly from 2027, when the qualification events start. That will be the next big target for me,” he said.
Sunil also credited the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for supporting his recovery after knee surgery. He said the institute provided rehabilitation support, access to a quality gym and the resources required for his comeback.
“After my knee surgery, IIS supported me a lot through my rehab. They gave me access to a really good gym and made sure I had everything I needed to recover properly,” he said.
“Because of that support, my comeback went well, and honestly, once I came back from rehabilitation, my body actually felt stronger than it did before the injury,” he added.
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