Sohail Khan Wins Historic Silver at Kudo World Cup 2025

Burgas (Bulgaria) – India’s Sohail Khan made history at the Kudo World Cup 2025 by clinching a silver medal in the Men’s -250 P category — the country’s best-ever performance in the senior men’s division at the prestigious global tournament. Held in Burgas, Bulgaria, the event brought together top Kudo athletes from around the world.

Hailing from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sohail — popularly known as the “Golden Boy of MP” — showcased exceptional skill and determination to secure a spot on the podium.

Sohail began his journey in the Round of 16 against Pakistan’s Abdulla, advancing via walkover after his opponent failed to meet the weight requirements. In the quarterfinals, he edged past Bulgaria’s Rusev Radoslav with a close 1-0 victory.

The semifinal saw Sohail at his dominant best, defeating Lithuania’s Andzej Voinius with a commanding 4-0 scoreline, earning him a place in the final and ensuring a historic silver medal for India — the nation’s first in this category.

In the final bout, Sohail faced a fierce challenge from France’s Quentin Miramont. The match was intense and evenly fought, with no decisive score in the regular two rounds. For the first time in the entire tournament, the bout extended into a third round. Despite a valiant and determined effort, Sohail narrowly lost by two points, securing the silver in a memorable and hard-fought finale.

Sohail’s achievement also reflects the strength of the team behind him. He trains under head coach Mohammad Aijaz Khan, with Harikant Tiwari as his conditioning coach, Deepak Tiwari overseeing strength and nutrition, and Bhabajeet Choudhary guiding his striking techniques.

This silver adds to Sohail’s impressive list of accolades. He is a former Junior World Cup gold medallist (2017), a four-time gold medallist at the Akshay Kumar International Kudo Tournament, and a quarterfinalist at the 2023 Senior World Championship.

Seeded 12th in the 2025 World Cup following a bronze at the Eurasian Cup earlier this year, Sohail has now surpassed expectations and emerged as India’s top senior-level performer on the world stage.

With inputs from IANS