Asian Wrestling Championships: Deepak Punia, Anshu Malik spearhead India squad

The tournament will take place in Astana from April 9 to 14.

The Indian wrestling squad for the Asian Wrestling Championships has been selected after the successful completion of trials from 10 to 11 March at the Indira Gandhi stadium. The 36th edition of the Asian Wrestling Championships will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from April 9 to 14.

The upcoming edition was shifted from India to Kazakstan due to a pending inquiry from the Indian sports ministry against WFI (Wrestling Federation of India). The current trials were held under the supervision of the oversight committee.

Tokyo Olympian Deepak Punia will spearhead the Indian men’s contingent and will be competing in the 92kg weight category instead of 87kg. Tokyo silver medallist Ravi Kumar Dahiya pulled out of the trials due to an injury and will be replaced by U-23 world champion Aman Sehrawat in the 57kg. Antim Phangal, Anshu Malik, and Sarita Mor will be the ones to watch out for in the women’s section.

Top Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi malik, and Vinesh Phogat did not take part in the trials and have also not participated in the two-ranking series held in February. India finished the 2022 edition in the fifth spot winning 17 medals (one gold, five silver and eleven bronze medals).

India squad for Asian Wrestling Championships

Greco Roman: Rupin (55kg), Sumit (60kg), Neeraj (63kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (72kg), Sajan (77kg), Rohit Dahiya (82kg), Sunil Kumar (87kg), Narender Cheema (97kg), and Naveen (130kg).

Women: Neelam (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Sito (55kg) Anshu Malik (57kg), Sarita Mor (59kg), Sonam Malik (62kg), Manisha (65kg), Nisha (68kg), Reetika (72kg), and Priya (76kg).

Men’s freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Pankaj (61kg), Anuj Kumar (65kg), Mulayam Yadav (70kg), Yash Tushir (74kg), Deepak (79kg), Jonty Kumar (86kg), Deepak Punia (92kg), Deepak Nehra (97kg), and Anirudh (125kg).