Samokov, Bulgaria, August 21 — Haryana’s 19-year-old wrestler Tapasya Gahlawat created history on Wednesday by winning India’s first gold medal at the 2025 Junior Wrestling World Championships. Competing in the 57kg category, Tapasya defeated defending champion Sowaka Uchida of Japan in a dramatic semifinal before clinching the title with a commanding win in the final.
Her journey to the gold came under difficult personal circumstances. Just a week ago, Tapasya lost her grandfather to a sudden heart attack. While she contemplated returning home from the national camp in Delhi, her father, Pramesh Gahlot, urged her to continue training, reminding her of her grandfather’s final words: “Come back as a world champion.”
Tapasya delivered on that promise. After cruising through the early rounds, she stunned Uchida — previously unbeaten at the international level — with a last-second takedown to secure a 4-3 victory in the semifinal. In the final, she overpowered Felicitas Domajeva with a 5-2 win, earning India’s maiden gold at the tournament.
For her father, the victory carried an added layer of fulfilment. A former wrestler himself, Pramesh’s career was cut short by a severe injury in 1999. Initially hoping for a son to fulfil his unachieved dream, he faced disappointment when Tapasya was born in 2006. But defying societal expectations and family opposition, he decided to train his daughter instead. Enrolled in a village akhara as the only girl wrestler, Tapasya overcame early hurdles to rise through the ranks.
Her gold in Samokov now crowns years of determination, sacrifice, and resilience. But the road ahead remains demanding. Tapasya is part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Senior World Championships in Zagreb, where her performance will be crucial in securing a spot among India’s top wrestlers in a highly competitive division.
“Abhi aage aur jana hai, abhi aur mehnat karni hai (She still has to go much further, she has to work even harder),” her father said, reflecting both pride and ambition for his daughter’s future.