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In Japan, Manisha Bhanwala will be aiming to become first Indian woman to win a medal in the 57kg category at the Asian Games.
Manisha has set her sights on creating history in Japan. (Picture Credit: IG/manisha_bhanwala17)
“Is there any medal?”
The surprise was palpable in Manisha Bhanwala’s voice and on her face when informed that Indian women are yet to win a medal in the 57kg category at the Asian Games.
In their defense, the sample size isn’t massive. The women’s freestyle 57kg category was introduced at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang.
In that edition, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Pooja Dhanda lost to eventual champion Jong Myong-Suk in the semifinals before going down to Katsuki Sakagami in the bronze-medal bout.
Then at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Mansi Ahlawat lost to eventual champion Tsugami Sakurai in the second round. She then defeated Bark Jeong-ae in the repechage before losing to Laylokhon Sobirova in the bronze-medal bout.
Now, Manisha has a chance to become the first Indian woman to end the eight-year-long wait and win the first medal in the class at the continental event slated to be held in Aichi-Nagoya (Japan).
“I can say that based on my dedication. My coach knows how much work I have put in and I have been training with him for many years. With that dedication, I feel the medal is confirmed,” Manisha said while speaking to News18 Sports on the sidelines of the Asian Games send-off ceremony in the national capital.
“But it is always about who has the better day; whoever performs better on the day wins,” she added.
While the wrestler will be making her debut at the Asian Games, she has been on the circuit for a decade now. She first made a name for herself at the 2016 South Asian Games, where she won gold.
After a lengthy hiatus, Manisha returned to the scene with a bronze in the 62kg category at the 2022 Asian Championships. The next year, she moved up to 65kg and claimed another bronze at the continental championships.
In 2024, Manisha added another bronze to her Asian Championships tally in the 62kg category. She enjoyed a brilliant 2025, winning gold at the Asian Championships and the Kocaeli Grand Prix, besides taking bronze at the Budapest Grand Prix as well.
Now, after a decade of toil, Manisha is travelling to Aichi-Nagoya for the Asian Games.
How excited is the 29-year-old?
“For me, every competition, whether it’s a district or state event, a World Ranking event, the Senior Asian or World Championships, the Asian Games or, God willing, the Olympics, carries the same feeling,” Manisha said.
“I approach every competition in the same way. It isn’t that I am more excited about the Asian Games. If I can become an Asian champion, I believe I can also become an Asian Games champion. God willing, who knows?” she added.
Having competed in the 62kg category in 2025, Manisha moved back to last September. But why the sudden shift?
“After my last World Championships, I had made up my mind that I needed to cut weight because I am quite short (5 feet 2 inches) and the girls competing at 62kg at the world level are very tall,” Manisha said.
“So, adjusting to the weight change was tough initially. I had to be careful about everything I ate. But now I feel normal because it has been almost a year since I moved to this weight. I have adapted to it now,” she added.
At the Paris Olympics, Vinesh Phogat missed out on the gold medal match after she couldn’t make weight on the morning of her bout.
Does the thought of missing the mark on competition day run through Manisha’s mind?
“If I have the weigh-in tomorrow, I need to maintain my weight two days before it. I don’t want to lose weight on the day of the weigh-in; I will make sure to cut it a day before,” Manisha said.
But the Asian Games will be no easy challenge. The field features Paris Olympics bronze medallist Kexin Hong, 53kg Paris Olympic champion Akari Fujinami and Asian Championships silver medallist Khulan Batkhuyag.
Is there a particular opponent that Manisha feels will be the most challenging?
“Japan, North Korea and China, for me, the three girls are all the same. Everyone is equal. I will know the result on the day of the wrestling, depending on how my body feels and how it responds,” Manisha said.
“Our sport is such that your body tells you what you are feeling inside,” she concluded.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Manisha Bhanwala is aiming to become the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 57kg category at the Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The women’s freestyle 57kg category was introduced at the 2018 Asian Games.
Ask News18September 10, 2026, 3:55 PM IST
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