How Manisha Bhanwala used a six-minute masterplan for historic wrestling gold

Manisha Bhanwala scripted history at the Wrestling World Championships, beating American Abigail Nette 8-6 after recovering from a 1-6 deficit to become India's first woman world champion.Manisha Bhanwala became India's first woman world champion at the Wrestling World Championships. Courtesy: UWWNew Delhi,Oct 30, 2026 23:37 ISTManisha Bhanwala did not need to match Abigail Nette's aggression to become a world champion. Instead, she needed to make the American wrestler play for six minutes. It was a carefully thought-out plan by the Indian camp, one that relied on patience, endurance, and the belief that Nette would eventually run out of steam.The strategy proved decisive as Manisha produced a remarkable comeback from a 1-6 deficit to defeat Nette 8-6 in the women's 59kg final at the Wrestling World Championships on Friday. In the process, she became India's first woman world champion, ending the country's 15-year wait for a wrestling world title.Chief coach Virender Dahiya revealed that the Indian camp had closely studied Nette's wrestling style and identified a weakness that Manisha could exploit."We had studied her style of wrestling. We knew she gets tired by the fifth minute and decided that the bout needed to last the full six minutes. If that happened, Manisha always had the advantage," Dahiya told PTI. "This is the kind of wrestling that our most decorated wrestlers have produced, winning through endurance. Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and Aman Sehrawat have done it, and now Manisha has done the same. Incredible," he added.PATIENCE BEFORE THE GOLDThe Indian team had also noticed that Nette preferred launching attacks from a distance. Manisha was therefore instructed to stay close to her opponent, maintain contact and deny her the space to execute those moves. However, the plan faced an early setback. Nette dominated the opening period and headed into the break with a commanding 6-1 lead. Manisha had plenty of work to do, but the Indian camp refused to panic.During the 30-second interval, Dahiya reminded his wrestler that the contest was far from over."I told her wrestling can change in one second and you have 180 seconds to turn it around. She responded by saying, 'Sir, do not worry. I will not disappoint you. I won't return without gold'," Dahiya recalled.Manisha returned to the mat with renewed determination. She began by executing a takedown before following it up with a gut wrench to bring the scores level at 6-6. Another two-point move gave her an 8-6 advantage, completing a stunning turnaround.With just 27 seconds remaining, Manisha held her ground against a tiring Nette and protected her lead to seal the gold medal.It was a victory built on more than just a dramatic comeback. Manisha had trusted the plan, conserved her energy and waited for the moment when her opponent began to fade. The six-minute strategy had worked to perfection, and Indian wrestling had found a new world champion.- Ends