CHENNAI: Asian Games gold medallist and 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat (57kg) will not compete at the upcoming World Championships. Instead, the 23-year-old from Haryana is expected to head to Makhachkala, Dagestan (Russia) for almost a month-long training camp if his proposal for the same is accepted.
Apart from Aman, Deepak Punia, who also won a bronze medal in the 97kg weight category at the continental multi-sport event, and Antim Panghal, who finished with silver in 53kg, will not compete at the Worlds. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 to November 1.
It should be noted that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) conducted trials to select the teams for the Worlds. The wrestlers, who represented the country at the Asian Games, were supposed to compete against the challengers in their respective weight categories after returning from Japan. It was learnt that Aman and Deepak decided not to compete in their respective final bouts.
"Aman competes in 57kg and it's quite difficult to maintain that weight. Besides, he is also nursing a shoulder and an ankle injury. He wants to be completely fit before the Olympic qualification starts," a coach in the know of things told this daily. The coach also informed that Deepak is also nursing a shoulder injury, which is why he decided to skip the Worlds.
A WFI official, meanwhile, said that Aman wants to visit Russia for a training camp. "He has sent a proposal to the Sports Authority of India in this regard. He wants to train in Makhachkala, Dagestan from October 23 to November 21," said the official. As per the proposal, Aman will be accompanied by his trainer, sparring partner and a foreign coach. This daily tried contacting Aman to know the reason from the wrestler but he didn't pick up the call nor he responded to a message sent in this regard.
Once again, eyes will be on Sujeet Kalkal, who clinched a gold medal in the 65kg at the Asian Games. Sujeet defeated Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka from Japan in the semifinal before making a stunning comeback in the final against Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev to finish on top of the podium. The challenge at the Worlds, however, will be difficult as World No 1 Rahman Amouzad, who skipped the men's 65kg category at the 2026 Asian Games, will be Sujeet's one of the main competitors. The reigning world champion, who missed the Asiad to prepare for the Worlds, was replaced by Abbas Ebrahimzadeh and Sujeet defeated him in the quarterfinal.
Besides, Greco-Roman wrestler Nitesh Siwach, who won a silver medal in 97kg weight category and ended India's 64-year long wait, will be another contender from the country to keep an eye on. He along with Sunil Kumar, also an Asiad bronze medallist in 87kg, will lead the country's campaign in the Greco-Roman style.
India squad
Men: Freestyle: Rahul 57kg, Nikhil 61kg, Sujeet 65kg, Vishal Kaliraman 70kg, Sagar Jaglan 74kg, Sourabh Yadav 79kg, Pushpender Dalal 86kg, Sachin 92kg, Vicky 97kg, Jaspooran Singh 125kg.
Greco-Roman: Lalit 55kg, Harsh 60kg, Sahil 63kg, Sachin Sahrawat 67kg, Karanjit Singh 72kg, Lovepreet Singh 77kg, Prince 82kg, Sunil Kumar 87kg, Nitesh 97kg, Joginder Rathee 130kg.
Women: Neelam 50kg, Nishu 53kg, Ahilya Shatrughan Shinde 55kg, Neha Sharma 57kg, Manisha 59kg, Neha 62kg, Ranjita 65kg, Srishti 68kg, Tanu Sharma 72kg, Kajal 76kg.
