New Delhi: Manisha Bhanwala has set her sights on a medal in the 57kg category at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, drawing strength from the memory of her father, who introduced her to wrestling and continues to live in her heart.

The 29-year-old made history in Astana, Kazakhstan, by becoming the first Indian woman to win a senior World Championships gold in wrestling. Her triumph in the 59kg category helped her overcome the disappointment of the Asian Games, where she had been confident of winning a medal.

“There was no luck in the Asian Games. It was all frustration. I kept talking to the coach about wrestling, practice and recovery. He told me that the next target was the World Championship. I still remember him saying that God had planned something big for me,” Manisha said during an interaction facilitated by the Wrestling Federation of India on Saturday.

Having competed in the 57kg category at the Asian Games, she opted for 59kg a t t h e W o r l d Championships because the short gap between the two events left little time to recover and shed weight. The decision paid off. In the final, Manisha recovered from a 0-6 deficit to clinch gold, refusing to panic as the contest appeared to be slipping away.

“Sometimes, when I concede points on the international stage, I feel the pressure. But then I tell myself to keep a clear mind and do what I have to do. I felt I needed to score at least 10 points,” she said.

Her coach, Virender Dahiya, first worked with her in 2022 during a camp in Lucknow ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Despite temperatures touching 45 degrees Celsius, Manisha turned up for two training sessions a day.

“She had no other hobby in life. Her only hobby was wrestling. The result is in front of you,” he said. For Manisha, the world title carries a significance that goes beyond the medal. Her father, who played a major role in shaping her career, died in 2022.

Before the final, she wore a special T-shirt in his memory.

“I cannot tell you how much my father contributed to my career. I keep talking to him as if he is living inside me. He is a part of my life; he is in my heart,” she said. His lessons continue to guide her, particularly the importance of seeing a task through to its conclusion. “My father taught me that either you do not get involved in any work, or you finish it completely. That is in my blood,” she said. “Wrestling is the first and last option for me. It has given me life, a name and the ability to live.”

Manisha began wrestling at a young age after her father enrolled her in a hostel because she was considered unfit. After struggling at the junior and sub-junior levels, she resolved to make her mark in the senior category.

She has since competed in four weight categories, from 65kg to 57kg, winning medals in all of them. The experience, she believes, has helped her adapt to different opponents and physical demands. Her immediate task is to return to 57 kg .

The Senior National Championships, the Pro Wrestling League and the national camp are next on the schedule, as the coaching staff prepares her for the Olympic qualification cycle.