Indian Wrestling Experiences a Resurgence Following Two Years of Turmoil
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India, March 12 -- One day after the union sports ministry lifted the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the organization began strategizing to revitalize the sport, which has faced significant challenges over the past two years. Key priorities for the WFI include establishing a comprehensive domestic calendar, resuming national training camps, and sending teams to various tournaments and exposure trips.
On Wednesday, the WFI announced that it would waive the eligibility criteria for selection trials for the Asian Wrestling Championships, allowing medallists from all major international competitions to participate. These trials are scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Wrestlers from the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) were unable to compete in the senior nationals held in Bengaluru this year due to the restrictions that accompanied the WFI's suspension. "We have received requests from our top wrestlers expressing their desire to participate. Medallists from the World Championships (both Senior and Junior), Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Paris Olympians are welcome to join the trials. The wrestlers have missed numerous competitions, and we aim to ensure that no one is excluded," stated a WFI official.
Among the RSPB wrestlers entering the trials is Aman Sehrawat, a medallist from the Paris Olympics. Other Olympians, including Deepak Punia, Antim Panghal, and Reetika Hooda, will also compete. The WFI will select national campers (four in each weight category) from these trials. National training camps have not been conducted for nearly two years, with wrestlers training at their respective centers in anticipation of a resolution to the situation. The year began poorly, as the Indian team was unable to participate in two ranking series events in Croatia and Albania in February. In total, wrestlers have missed six tournaments, and with the risk of missing the Asian and world championships, the sports ministry decided to revoke its suspension.
Reetika Hooda, one of India's most promising athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics, expressed her disappointment over the absence of ranking events. "The circumstances were quite dire. Our future appeared uncertain. We are celebrating in our akhada now that we have received the news of the suspension being lifted," stated the Asian Championships and U23 Worlds medallist in an interview with HT.
"Many young wrestlers and their families I know were contemplating leaving the sport. The situation was dire. There were no domestic competitions or national training camps. We have faced challenges due to the lack of camps. Having participated in camps from a young age has significantly contributed to my development on the international stage. The variety of training partners and the facilities available at akhadas are unparalleled. The discipline and camaraderie fostered there are essential for becoming a successful wrestler," she added.
The past two disrupted seasons have resulted in a limited number of national competitions. In 2022, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) organized 18 domestic events, including five National Championships (Senior, U15, U17, U20, and U23), along with Federation Cups, Open Ranking National tournaments, and Grand Prix series events. However, this number dwindled to just five in the last season. In 2023, two separate senior national competitions were conducted, one by WFI and another by the ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). WFI emphasized the necessity of resuming the competition calendar in April to allow wrestlers to prepare for international events at the age-group level. The ongoing governance crisis has adversely affected the development of emerging talent in a sport that has consistently brought medals to India since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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