Sergei karmrian

Final U17 World Championships Medal: India’s freestyle wrestling contingent concluded their campaign on a highly positive note at the 2026 U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, as three final-day podium finishes took India’s overall medal tally across women's wrestling and men's freestyle to an impressive 13 medals.

The 17-year-old Sitender Malik, defending his U17 world title from 2025, squared off against Russia's Sergei Karmrian in a tense championship bout. Delivering a masterclass in composed, clinical wrestling, the young Indian secured a 3-1 victory to capture the gold medal.

This historic triumph elevates Sitender into the rarest of company. He etched his name in the history books as only the second Indian male freestyle wrestler to ever win two U17/Cadet World titles.