From Childhood Dream to World Podium: Tanu Sharma Wins Maiden Senior World Wrestling Bronze

For 20-year-old Tanu Sharma, winning a medal at the Senior World Wrestling Championships was the fulfilment of a childhood dream, to wear the Indian jersey, represent her country and compete on the international stage.

Tanu clinched bronze in the 72kg category at the championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, overcoming injuries to make her mark at the senior level. She returned to India on Saturday night alongside fellow medallist Neelam Sirohi, with the duo receiving a warm welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after contributing to India’s four-medal haul in women’s freestyle wrestling.

Tanu, who had won silver at the Under-20 World Championships just weeks earlier, said the achievement gave her confidence to compete against senior wrestlers. She also analysed her narrow 3-4 defeat in the junior final, repeatedly watching the bout to identify and correct her mistakes.

Before her bronze-medal contest, she studied three to four previous bouts of her American opponent to understand her attacking moves and prepare a strategy.

Her journey was made tougher by an ankle injury 15 days before the competition and an earlier knee problem. However, she refused to let the setbacks derail her campaign.

Since the 72kg category is not part of the Olympic programme, Tanu said she was willing to change weight divisions to pursue her Olympic dream. Her upcoming competitions include the Senior Nationals and trials for next year’s Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Neelam Sirohi, who won silver in the 50kg category, described her medal as the reward for years of perseverance. Having competed at the World Championships since 2022 without a podium finish, she said her family, coaches and teammates had kept her motivated.

Neelam lost the final to Japan’s four-time world champion Yui Susaki and is now targeting direct Olympic qualification at the next World Championships.