New Zealand wrestler Suraj Singh has been awarded a belated Commonwealth Games bronze medal after a rival's disqualification for an anti-doping violation.

Singh, 23, from Katikati, finished fourth in the men's 57kg freestyle wrestling event at the Games in Birmingham in August.

However, his rival for the bronze medal match, Ali Asad, of Pakistan, has now been disqualified after testing positive to banned substances. That means Suraj gets the bronze, the New Zealand Olympic Committee has confirmed.

'It means a huge amount, I've been wrestling since I was a young kid so to get this result is really special. I wish that I got the medal in Birmingham but I'm pretty pleased to be on the podium in the record books,” says Suraj.

'I told my family straight away, they were so happy about it and really pleased to share this moment with me today.”

New Zealand's team returned home from Birmingham with 20 golds and 49 medals in all, making it the country's most successful offshore Commonwealth Games.

Suraj was presented with flowers and a New Zealand flag at a celebratory event attended by Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin at the NZOC offices on Friday.

The CGF is in the process of supplying a new medal to Suraj.

'We're extremely proud of Suraj and this achievement," says NZOC chief executive Nicki Nicol. "He's a hard worker and deserves this result. It's a shame he didn't get to stand on the podium in Birmingham however this result highlights his capability and potential.”

Suraj began wrestling as an 11-year-old and represents Katikati Wildcats wrestling team. He won two gold medals at the 2019 Oceania Championships.

He won't get the chance to add to his Commonwealth Games medal tally in Victoria, Australia, in 2026 as wrestling has been dropped from the programme, with shooting reinstated after it wasn't contested in Birmingham.