India, March 31 -- The performance of Indian wrestlers at the Asian Championships in Jordan was remarkable. It is evident that their training was adversely affected over the past two years due to the absence of national camps and the lack of a governing federation.

At the beginning of this year, the outlook was grim, as the wrestlers missed two significant international ranking series tournaments. The Indian team's participation in the Asian Championships was only made possible after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) regained its recognition from the Sports Ministry last month.

Throughout most of the last two years, wrestlers trained at their local facilities. While elite athletes had the opportunity to train abroad through the TOPS program, those in the second tier faced challenges due to a shortage of sparring partners in akhadas and a lack of domestic competitions.

However, the results at the Asian Championships in Jordan indicate that little has been lost. Coaches at the akhadas successfully kept the wrestlers motivated and prepared for major events. India secured a total of 10 medals (1 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze), with several newcomers demonstrating the depth of talent in the sport. The women's wrestling team stood out, earning five medals, four of which were in Olympic weight categories.

Manisha Bhanwala (28) made a remarkable comeback from a five-point deficit to defeat North Korea's Ok Ju Kim 8-7 in the 62kg Olympic weight class, securing India's sole gold medal in the competition. Having previously won three bronze medals at the Asian Championships, Manisha delivered an outstanding performance this year.

The exceptionally skilled U23 world champion Reetika Hooda (22) may feel disappointed after narrowly losing the final 7-6 to her Paris Olympics opponent Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan. Despite holding a four-point lead, Aiperi managed to turn the match around in the final moments. Nevertheless, Reetika can take confidence from her victory over Japan's Nodoka Yamamoto in the semi-finals.

Eighteen-year-old Mansi Lather swiftly advanced to the senior level by securing a bronze medal in the 68kg category. Following her victories at the U17 Asian and World Championships last year, Mansi is proving her readiness for elite competition.

Three female medalists—Manisha, Reetika, and Muskan, who earned bronze in the 59kg category at 19 years old—hail from the Chhotu Ram Academy in Rohtak, a prominent center for women's wrestling in India. Coach Mandeep Singh remarked, "There were moments when these young athletes felt disheartened due to a lack of competitions, but we maintained their motivation. With several international medalists in the age group, the quality of sparring is excellent. Even in the absence of a national camp, these girls have access to top-notch facilities, which is evident in their performance."

Antim Panghal, a bronze medalist at the World Championships, also secured a bronze in the 53kg category, marking a positive return to form after a disappointing experience at the Paris Olympics, where she faced challenges and became embroiled in an unnecessary controversy.

"The results from the Asian meet indicate that we possess strong depth in our roster. Each weight class has two to three high-quality wrestlers, although there is still room for improvement. Once the national camp commences, they will benefit from quality sparring partners and a structured training schedule," stated Virender Dahiya, the chief coach of the women's team.

"As we approach the World Championships in September, we aim to provide opportunities for every wrestler. We can field different teams for international grand prix events and other smaller competitions, which will help us evaluate their performances. However, it is essential to dedicate time to the national camp, especially since some athletes are returning from injuries."

In men's freestyle, the return of experienced wrestler Deepak Punia, who won silver and claimed his sixth medal at the Asian meet, was a significant highlight. However, the early exits of 2024 U23 World Champion Chirag Chikkara (57kg) and Sujeet Kalkal were disappointing. In the past four editions, Olympic medalists Ravi Dahiya (who has achieved a hat-trick of titles) and Aman Sehrawat have consistently secured the 57kg gold for India.

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