Nitesh Siwach Ends 64-Year Wait, Secures Historic Asian Games Greco-Roman Silver

Indian wrestler Nitesh Siwach has etched his name in history at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, clinching a silver medal in the men's 97kg Greco-Roman category. This monumental achievement ends a 64-year drought for India in Greco-Roman wrestling at the continental event, making Siwach the first Indian in over six decades to reach a gold-medal bout in the discipline. His inspiring performance spearheaded India's impressive six-medal haul on Day 12 of the Games, which also saw podium finishes in sailing, squash, and archery. Siwach's silver, secured after a hard-fought final against Japan's Yuri Nakazato, revives India's presence in a wrestling style where the nation has historically struggled for top honours. Before this, the last Indian Greco-Roman silver medalists were Maruti Mane, Udey Chand, and Sajjan Singh, all the way back in 1962. This breakthrough comes just after Sunil Kumar made headlines earlier in the Games by becoming the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to secure two Asian Games medals, adding a bronze to his collection. These strong showings highlight a significant resurgence for Indian wrestling, moving beyond its traditional freestyle dominance. As the 20th Asian Games heads into its final stretch, with competition concluding on October 4, India currently stands in eighth place with a total of 66 medals, including 10 gold, 23 silver, and 33 bronze. Siwach's historic silver, alongside other strong performances, underscores India's growing ambition to solidify its position among Asia's top sporting nations. The challenge now lies in maintaining this momentum and translating it into even greater success in future international multi-sport event.