WFI warns wrestlers against pulling out of Asian Championships

NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday warned Under-23 wrestlers that withdrawing from the upcoming Asian Championships in Vietnam could lead to their exclusion from the Asian Games selection trials later this month.

The warning comes after several prominent wrestlers, including Deepak (74kg), Sumit (63kg), Rohit (97kg), Neha Sangwan (65kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Amruta (72kg), and Kajal (76kg), decided to skip the U-23 Asian meet due to scheduling concerns.

The tournament in Da Nang is scheduled from May 22 to 26, while the Asiad trials will take place just four days later – women’s trials on May 30 in Delhi and men’s freestyle and greco-roman trials on May 31 in Lucknow.




Wrestlers fear the tight schedule will leave them with insufficient recovery time and force them to undergo rapid weight cuts twice within a week.

“The wrestling teams for participation in the above championship have already been selected, and all necessary formalities, including registration in UWW Athena, visa processing, and related documentation, have been completed. It has come to the notice of the federation that some selected wrestlers are attempting to withdraw their names from participation in the above championship. At this stage, it is not possible to make any amendment or replacement in the Indian squad already finalised and submitted,” read the WFI circular signed by president Sanjay Singh.

“Any selected wrestler who withdraws his/her name from participation in the aforesaid championship shall not be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games,” added the circular.

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