India picks 18-strong wrestling team for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games

Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat and Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Antim Panghal booked their places in the Indian wrestling team for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games by winning their respective categories at the national trials held last weekend. com. The men’s freestyle trials were held at the Regional Centre in Lucknow, while the women’s wrestling trials were held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. Aman Sehrawat, who became India’s youngest Olympic medallist at Paris 2024 – he was 21 years and 24 days when he won bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle – outclassed Rahul Deswal in the final to clinch his ticket to Japan. In the women’s 53kg division, Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Antim Panghal beat Meenakshi Goyat to earn the right to represent India at the September 19 to October 4 continental showpiece.

Deepak Punia, who was the only Indian wrestler to reach a final at the Hangzhou Asian Games, winning a silver in the men’s 86kg class, competed in the 97kg category and pinned Jonty Gujjar in the final for a spot in Aichi-Nagoya. The Greco-Roman squad is headlined by Sunil Kumar, an Asian Games bronze medallist and former Asian champion, who secured the 87kg berth. At the last Asian Games, Indian wrestlers won one silver and five bronze medals. Indian Wrestling Team for 20th Asian Games: Women: Antim Panghal (53kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Dipanshi (50kg), Priya Malik (72kg). Men’s Freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet Kalkal (65kg), Sagar Jaglan (74kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg), Deepak Punia (97kg), Rajat Ruhal (125kg).