Asian Games-bound Sujeet Kalkal wins wrestling trials for World Championships 2026
(Courtesy : WFI)
Winners will face Asian Games-bound contingent in the final World Championships trial
World No. 1 grappler Sujeet Kalkal emerged victorious in the 65kg freestyle category at the national selection trials on Tuesday. Alongside Kalkal, standout performers including Yash, Sachin, and Abhimanyu also secured top finishes in their respective weight divisions, setting up a final trial showdown with the Asian Games-bound contingent for berths at the Senior World Wrestling Championships 2026, which is going to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.
Sujeet Kalkal prevailed in a competitive 65kg field in Lucknow, beating Anujj Kumar 8-3 in the final. The trials in the four non-olympic weight classes will also be held later.
Freestyle winners across weight classes
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In other Freestyle action, Yash produced a dominant performance to claim the 74kg title, defeating Deepak 10-4. Rahul secured the top spot in the 57kg category with an 11-4 win over Akshay Dhere, while Pushpendar Dalal prevailed over Himanshu Antil 10-4 in the 86kg final. Vicky edged past Parveen Kumar 3-2 in a tight 97kg bout, and Jaspooran Singh defeated Rohit 5-1 to win the 125kg division.
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WFI President Sanjay Singh said, “Today’s trials in Lucknow proved just how competitive men’s wrestling has become in India. The sheer effort and technical skill displayed by the athletes assure us that our reserve bench is stronger than ever. I congratulate today’s top performers and expect them to carry this same momentum forward.”
Greco-Roman results from Lucknow
In the Greco-Roman discipline, Harsh delivered a commanding 9-0 victory over Lalit to win the 60kg category. Sachin edged Karanjit Singh 6-5 in a thrilling 67kg final, while Luvpreet Singh overcame Vikas 10-8 in the 77kg division. Rohit defeated Rohit Bura 5-2 in the 87kg category, Abhimanyu secured a 12-3 win over Virensh Kundu in the 97kg class, and Joginder emerged victorious by fall against Gursewak in the 130kg final.
WFI Men’s Freestyle Selection Trials Results
57kg: Rahul – 1st Position | Akshay Dhere – 2nd Position
65kg: Sujeet – 1st Position | Anujj Kumar – 2nd Position
74kg: Yash – 1st Position | Deepak – 2nd Position
86kg: Pushpendar Dalal – 1st Position | Himanshu Antil – 2nd Position
97kg: Vicky – 1st Position | Parveen Kumar – 2nd Position
125kg: Jaspooran Singh – 1st Position | Rohit – 2nd Position
WFI Greco-Roman Selection Trials Results
130kg: Joginder – 1st Position | Gursewak – 2nd Position
60kg: Harsh – 1st Position | Lalit – 2nd Position
67kg: Sachin – 1st Position | Karanjit Singh – 2nd Position
77kg: Luvpreet Singh – 1st Position | Vikas – 2nd Position
87kg: Rohit – 1st Position | Rohit Bura – 2nd Position
97kg: Abhimanyu – 1st Position | Virensh Kundu – 2nd Position
Who won the 65kg freestyle category at the WFI selection trials?
World No. 1 Sujeet Kalkal won the 65kg freestyle title, beating Anujj Kumar 8-3 in the final.
When and where will the Senior World Wrestling Championships 2026 be held?
The championships will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1, 2026.
What happens next for the winners of the Lucknow trials?
They will face the Asian Games-bound contingent in a final trial to determine berths for the Senior World Wrestling Championships.
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