Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal won their respective categories at the national trials held over the weekend to book their berths in the Indian wrestling team for the Asian Games 2026.
Selections at the national trials were held across all 18 Olympic weight categories – six each in women’s wrestling, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. The men’s freestyle trials were held at the Regional Centre in Lucknow on Sunday, while women’s wrestling trials were conducted on Saturday at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.
Aman Sehrawat, who became India’s youngest Olympic medallist at Paris 2024, outclassed Rahul Deswal in the men’s 57kg wrestling final. The 22-year-old Indian wrestler had won a bronze at the previous edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, three years back.
In the women’s 53kg division, Asian Games 2023 bronze medallist Antim Panghal beat Meenakshi Goyat to earn the right to represent India at the upcoming continental meet. Meenakshi Goyat, who beat Antim at the trials for the Asian Championships earlier this year, had ousted the returning Vinesh Phogat in the semifinals.
Deepak Punia, who was the only Indian wrestler to reach a final at the Asian Games 2023 and won a silver in the men’s 86kg division, competed in the 97kg category and pinned Jonty Gujjar in the final for the spot at the upcoming continental meet.
Sujeet Kalkal, who won the gold medal at the Asian Championships earlier this year, will represent India in the 65kg division.
The Greco-Roman squad is headlined by Sunil Kumar, an Asian Games bronze medallist and former Asian champion, who secured the 87kg berth after defeating Rohit Bura in the trials.
The Asian Games 2026 is scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya. At the 2023 Asian Games, Indian wrestlers won one silver and five bronze medals.
Indian wrestling squad: Women: Antim Panghal (53kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Dipanshi (50kg), Priya Malik (72kg)
Men’s freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet Kalkal (65kg), Sagar Jaglan (74kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg), Deepak Punia (97kg), Rajat Ruhal (125kg).
Greco-Roman: Sumit Dalal (60kg), Deepak (67kg), Aman (77kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Nitesh Kumar (97kg), Deepanshu (130kg).
