Manisha Bhanwala shifted her focus to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after winning gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. The 29-year-old plans to return to the 57kg category for the qualification cycle. “The target is to qualify for LA,” she said on Saturday, feeling confident about her future performance.
Manisha Bhanwala taking a victory lap after winning gold medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships
Jind: Fresh from scripting history at the world wrestling championships, Manisha Bhanwala has shifted her focus to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, with the 29-year-old set to return to the 57kg category as she begins preparations for the qualification cycle. Manisha became the first Indian woman to win a senior Worlds gold, triumphing in the 59kg category in Astana. The decision to move up from 57kg was prompted by the short turnaround between the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the Worlds, which left little time for recovery and weight management. “The target is to qualify for LA, and 57kg being the Olympic weight, I will be preparing for that division. This title has given me confidence. Maintaining my weight is not an issue,” Manisha said on Saturday. For national coach Virender Dahiya, the biggest takeaway from her triumph was experience. Competing at her fourth Worlds, Manisha showed the composure needed to turn a closely fought contest around, recovering from a 0-6 deficit in the final to clinch gold. “It was her experience that saw her through,” Dahiya said, recalling how they studied her opponent’s videos and planned to exploit her tendency to tire towards the closing stages. He contrasted Manisha’s maturity with that of 18-year-old Kajal, who contested a final but could not close out the bout. “Kajal and Neelam lacked experience, but they have shown what they can achieve,” he said, underlining the importance of learning to manage crucial moments.
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Dahiya is confident Manisha can deliver on the Olympic stage. “Manisha will win a medal at the LA Olympics. Write this down. I am saying it today,” he declared. Manisha, meanwhile, refuses to consider age a limitation. “It all depends on the mind. There is no difference between young and old. What matters is dedication,” she said. Having overcome personal setbacks and disappointment at the Asian Games, she now has a clear target. “In 2028, you and I will meet in Los Angeles, with a medal,” she said.