Manisha Bhanwala meets CM Nayab Saini after historic world wrestling gold

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday met Jind wrestler Manisha Bhanwala, India’s first woman to win gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, and promised her full support from the state for the competitions ahead.

Manisha called on the Chief Minister in Chandigarh days after winning the women’s 59 kg title in Astana, Kazakhstan. He congratulated her for bringing glory to the country.

“Manisha’s historic achievement is a matter of immense pride for Haryana and the entire nation,” Saini said. He encouraged her to keep delivering strong performances, wished her success in future competitions and assured her of all possible help and support.

Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam and Manisha’s coach Mandeep Singh were also present.

Manisha won the final on October 30. She was 0-6 down against Abigail Nette of the USA, the Pan American champion, but fought back to win 8-6. The 29-year-old is only the second Indian wrestler to become a world champion, after Sushil Kumar in 2010, and the first from Haryana.

Manisha has shown her talent and grit on the international stage before. In 2025, she won gold in the 62 kg category at the Asian Championships in Jordan. She also won gold at a World Ranking Series event in 2026. Before that, she won bronze at the Asian Championships three years in a row, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, a mark of remarkable consistency.

“Haryana’s daughters are setting new benchmarks in sports,” the Chief Minister said. “Athletes like Manisha Bhanwala are an inspiration for the younger generation, especially girls across the state. Her success shows that any goal can be reached with determination, hard work and dedication.”