WFI will not hold selection trials for wrestlers ahead of the World Olympic Games Qualifier: Report

Indian wrestlers will have a last chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided not to hold selection trials for wrestlers ahead of the upcoming World Olympic Games Qualifier, as per the New Indian Express.

Earlier this month, it was stated that WFI might hold trials to select the wrestlers who would compete in the upcoming World Olympic Games Qualifier, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul from May 9 to 12. As per the new decision, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will send the Indian wrestlers to Istanbul, who represented the contingent at the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and failed to secure a quota for the Paris Olympics 2024.

Until now, four female wrestlers have managed to secure the Olympic quotas. Antim Panghal (53kg) secured the quota during the 2023 World Championships, where she won the bronze medal. Meanwhile, the likes of Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), and Reetika Hooda (76kg) bagged a spot in the Paris-going Indian contingent during the recent Asian qualifiers.

At the World Olympic Games Qualifier, Indian wrestlers can secure up to 14 quotas for Paris. Out of the 14 remaining spots, 12 are in the men’s category (six freestyle and six Greco-Roman), and two are in the women’s category (62kg and 68kg). Nevertheless, bagging a spot at the World Qualifiers will be an uphill battle for the Indian wrestlers.

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As a result, the likes of Deepak Punia and Sujeet Kalkal will also get an opportunity to represent their participation in the Olympic qualifiers after they failed to reach the weigh-in at the time in Bishkek. A WFI source told the daily:

“The WFI has decided not to hold the selection trials. All the 14 wrestlers, who came first during the first selection trials and represented the country in the Asian qualifier, are eligible to compete in the World qualifier,”.

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