WFI Finalises U15 and U20 Squads for Asian Wrestling Championships in Pattaya

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has officially announced the Indian contingent for the upcoming U15 and U20 Asian Wrestling Championships, set to be held in Pattaya, Thailand. 

The squads across Men's Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling categories were finalised following the successful completion of national selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.

The announcement marks another important step in India's long-term wrestling development programme as the federation continues to focus on strengthening the talent pipeline from the grassroots level. With the Asian Championships serving as a crucial international platform for young athletes, the selected wrestlers will now have the opportunity to test themselves against the continent's best prospects.

The selection trials witnessed strong participation from wrestlers across the country, highlighting the depth of talent emerging in Indian wrestling. The primary objective behind the selections is to provide international exposure to cadet and junior athletes and prepare them for future transitions into the senior national setup.

WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed confidence in the selected athletes and praised the quality of competition displayed during the trials.

“The Wrestling Federation of India is committed to nurturing young talent, and the quality of wrestling displayed at the IG Stadium validates our grassroots initiatives. We have selected a highly competent squad across both the U15 and U20 categories. I congratulate all the selected athletes and remain confident that the upcoming preparatory phase will help them deliver strong performances and bring laurels to the country in Pattaya,” Singh said.

The U20 Women's Wrestling squad features several promising names who impressed during the selection trials. Parveen secured the top spot in the 50kg category, while Muska emerged victorious in the 53kg division. Kajal qualified in the 55kg category, and Mana earned selection in the 57kg class.

Among the standout performers was Savita, who topped the 62kg division and secured her place in the Indian team. Mansi Lather also delivered a strong performance to win the 68kg category, while Manisha claimed the 72kg spot. Kajal completed the women's lineup by qualifying in the 76kg category.

India's U15 Women's Wrestling squad also features several talented young wrestlers. Samruddhi Satish emerged victorious in the 33kg category, while Gauri Satish topped the 39kg division. Other wrestlers securing selection include Divyarani, Dnyaneshwari, Vinakshi, Mohini, Nisha, Dipanshi, Anjali Santosh and Disha Shokeen across various weight classes.

In the men's freestyle division, the U20 squad boasts a balanced mix of talent across all weight categories. Rohit will represent India in the 57kg class, while Pushp secured the 61kg berth. Pawan Balaji Dhayagude earned selection in the competitive 65kg category and Sumitkumar Laxman Bharaskar qualified in the 70kg division.

The squad also includes Adarsh Yuvraj Patil (74kg), Saurabh Yadav (79kg), Sahil Dalal (86kg), Nikhil (92kg), Lacky (97kg) and heavyweight Ronak in the 125kg category. Ronak was among the standout performers during the trials and will be one of India's medal hopefuls in Pattaya.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/new-coach-shako-unveils-asian-games-blueprint-as-india-s-wrestlers-begin-road-to-aichi-nagoya

The U15 freestyle team features a strong group of emerging wrestlers led by Jatin in the 38kg category and Gautam in the 41kg division. The squad also includes Vansh, Harshvardhan, Rathmesh, Nitesh, Naitak, Arman, Harshad Keshav Chemte and Vivek Chauhan across the remaining weight classes.

Greco-Roman wrestling, an area where India has shown increasing progress in recent years, will be represented by full-strength squads in both age categories.

The U20 Greco-Roman team includes Neeraj Patel (55kg), Suraj (60kg), Aaryan Malik (63kg), Anuj (67kg), Vinit (72kg), Dheeraj Kumar Malik (77kg), Himanshu (82kg), Vikash Dalal (87kg), Akshay Rana (97kg) and heavyweight Dishant (130kg).

Meanwhile, the U15 Greco-Roman contingent will be led by wrestlers such as Rohit Ashok Mali, Rajveer Singh, Yash, Tushar Khokar, Paryas Dhounchak, Darpan Raju Chaudhari, Kushal Kajal, Gaurav Gundaji and Jatin, all of whom secured top positions in their respective categories during the trials.

With the squads now finalised, the selected wrestlers will participate in a mandatory national preparatory camp. The camp will focus on technical refinement, tactical preparation, strength and conditioning, recovery protocols and sports science support to ensure athletes are in peak condition before departing for Thailand.

The Asian Wrestling Championships have traditionally served as an important stepping stone for future senior international stars. Many of India's leading wrestlers first made their mark at age-group continental events before progressing to World Championships, Asian Games and Olympic success.

As the young Indian wrestlers prepare for Pattaya, the focus will be on gaining valuable international experience while challenging for podium finishes. With strong squads assembled across all disciplines, India will aim to continue its reputation as one of Asia's leading wrestling nations and add another successful chapter to its rich wrestling tradition.