Nitesh narrowly missed out on gold after losing to Japan\u2019s Yuri Nakazato in the men\u2019s 97 kg final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre on Thursday. His silver, however, ended India\u2019s 64-year wait for a Greco-Roman wrestling finalist at the Asian Games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHonestly, I still can\u2019t believe it; I have won a silver medal at the Asian Games. My father always told me there was no looking back once I started this journey, that I had to bring home a medal, and today, I did it for him,\u201d Nitesh said after his historic achievement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nitesh entered the final having produced two dominant performances in the knockout stages. He defeated Turkmenistan\u2019s Amanberdi Agamammedov 7-1 in the quarterfinals before overpowering Mongolia\u2019s Ganbaataryn Gankhuyag 9-0 in the semifinal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His run to the final made him the first Indian since Maruti Mane at the 1962 Asian Games to reach the gold-medal bout in Greco-Roman wrestling. Mane had won silver in the same weight category 64 years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nitesh said the pressure of breaking new ground in his weight category only strengthened his resolve. \u201cNo one from my weight category had ever won a medal here before, so there was a lot of pressure, but I trusted my training and gave everything I had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The final proved more difficult, with Nakazato taking a 2-0 lead after Nitesh was penalised for passivity. The Japanese wrestler extended his advantage to 4-0 in the second period and maintained control to secure gold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite falling short of the top prize, Nitesh said the support he received throughout his preparation played a major role in his success. \u201cI am so thankful to Inspire Institute of Sport. Whatever I needed \u2013 travel, nutrition, physiotherapy \u2013 they were always there for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nitesh, who arrived in Nagoya as a 2026 Asian Championships silver medallist, said the medal carried special significance after years of effort. \u201cMaine apne desh ka Tiranga lehra diya,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite falling short of the top prize, Nitesh said the support he received throughout his preparation played a major role in his success. \u201cI am so thankful to Inspire Institute of Sport. Whatever I needed \u2013 travel, nutrition, physiotherapy \u2013 they were always there for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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