Aman Sehrawat Leads India's Strong Wrestling Contingent at Budapest Ranking Series
India's top wrestlers will return to international competition this week as the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial, the fourth and final United World Wrestling (UWW) Budapest Ranking Series event of the 2026 season, gets underway in Budapest, Hungary.
The tournament, scheduled from July 15 to 19, is expected to feature several Olympic, World and continental medallists, making it one of the most competitive events before the World Championships and the 2026 Asian Games. India has entered wrestlers across men's freestyle, women's wrestling and Greco-Roman, with 11 members of the country's Asian Games squad set to compete. The event will serve as an important benchmark as Indian wrestlers fine-tune their preparations for the continental showpiece later this year.
Among the biggest attractions in the Indian squad are Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat and World Championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal, both returning to action after missing the Ulaanbaatar Ranking Series earlier this month.
The spotlight will firmly be on Aman Sehrawat, who returns to international competition after opting to skip the Ulaanbaatar Open. The 22-year-old made history by becoming India's youngest Olympic medallist after winning bronze at the Paris Olympics and has since established himself among the world's leading freestyle wrestlers. Competing in the 57kg category, Aman enters Budapest aiming to regain competitive rhythm before the World Championships and the Asian Games.
The Ranking Series provides valuable opportunities to earn international ranking points while facing elite opposition under tournament conditions similar to those expected later in the season.
Given his recent success on the global stage, Aman will undoubtedly be among India's strongest medal contenders in Budapest. Rahul will also represent India in the same weight category, giving the country two entries in the highly competitive division.
India has named a balanced freestyle squad featuring experienced campaigners alongside promising young wrestlers. At 61kg, Deepak will represent the country, while Mohit Kumar and Vishal Kaliramana have been entered in the 65kg division. Abhimanyou will compete at 70kg, followed by Asian Games-bound Sagar Jaglan in the 74kg category.
The 86kg division features Amit and Mukul Dahiya, another wrestler selected for the Asian Games squad. Former World Championships silver medallist and Olympian Deepak Punia returns in the 97kg category, where he will look to build momentum after a challenging Olympic cycle. Punit Kumar will wrestle at 92kg, while Dinesh Dhankhar and Rajat Ruhal complete India's freestyle squad in the heavyweight 125kg division.
The depth across weight categories reflects India's continued strength in freestyle wrestling and provides valuable opportunities for emerging wrestlers to gain international experience.
The Budapest Ranking Series carries added significance because it is the final Ranking Series tournament before the World Championships. Apart from medals and ranking points, the event offers wrestlers a chance to evaluate their form against some of the world's strongest competitors. For India's coaching staff, the tournament also provides an opportunity to assess the readiness of wrestlers already selected for the Asian Games while identifying areas requiring improvement before the biggest events of the season.
Several wrestling powerhouses, including the United States, Japan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, are expected to field strong squads, ensuring high-quality competition across every weight category.
Asian Games Preparation in Focus
The tournament will be particularly important for India's Asian Games-bound wrestlers. Alongside Aman Sehrawat, Sagar Jaglan, Mukul Dahiya and Deepak Punia, several Greco-Roman and women's wrestlers selected for the continental event are also competing in Budapest. Facing world-class opposition under competitive conditions is expected to provide invaluable preparation before the Asian Games, where India will once again aim to be among the leading wrestling nations.
The Ranking Series also allows wrestlers to adapt to the latest competition regulations while sharpening tactical approaches against diverse international styles.
Among the experienced names in India's freestyle squad, Deepak Punia will be eager to make a strong statement. The Olympian has consistently been one of India's top wrestlers at the international level, winning medals at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. A strong performance in Budapest would provide an important confidence boost as he prepares for another crucial international season.
Similarly, Mukul Dahiya and Sagar Jaglan will look to establish themselves among the leading contenders in their respective categories.
With Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat leading the squad, India will expect to challenge for multiple podium finishes. Aman's consistency at the highest level makes him one of the favourites in his weight category, while Deepak Punia's experience could prove invaluable in the heavier divisions. The tournament also offers younger wrestlers an opportunity to gain exposure against elite competition and strengthen India's depth ahead of future Olympic cycles.
As Indian wrestling continues to evolve, regular participation in Ranking Series events has become an essential part of the country's high-performance programme.
India's Men's Freestyle Squad
57kg: Aman Sehrawat, Rahul
61kg: Deepak
65kg: Mohit Kumar, Vishal Kaliramana
70kg: Abhimanyou
74kg: Sagar Jaglan
86kg: Amit, Mukul Dahiya
92kg: Punit Kumar
97kg: Deepak Punia
125kg: Dinesh Dhankhar, Rajat Ruhal
July 15 (Wednesday)
Men's Freestyle: 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg
Qualification rounds, semi-finals, repechage and finals – 2:00 PM onwards
July 16 (Thursday)
Men's Freestyle: 79kg, 92kg, 97kg and 125kg
Qualification rounds, semi-finals, repechage and finals – 2:00 PM onwards
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