New Delhi: 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 was only able to participate in the Asian Championships 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.

Nevertheless, 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 sport's depth. 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, overcoming 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 significantly elevated her performance this year.

The exceptionally skilled U23 world champion Reetika Hooda (22) is likely feeling disheartened after narrowly losing the final 7-6 to Aiperi Medet Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan, who had previously defeated her at the Paris Olympics. Despite holding a significant four-point advantage, Aiperi managed to reverse the situation in the final moments of the match. Nevertheless, Reetika can take solace in her victory over Japan's Nodoka Yamamoto in the semi-finals.

Eighteen-year-old Mansi Lather made a swift transition to the senior level by securing a bronze medal in the 68kg category. Following her triumph in the U17 Asian and World championships last year, Mansi is proving her readiness for the elite competition.

Three female medalists—Manisha, Reetika, and bronze medalist Muskan (19) in the 59kg category—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 discouraged due to a lack of tournaments, but we maintained their motivation. With several international medalists in the age group, the quality of sparring is excellent. Even without 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, providing reassurance that she is regaining her form. The Paris Olympics had been a setback for the highly regarded wrestler, as she exited without a fight and became embroiled in an unnecessary controversy.

“I believe the Asian meet has demonstrated that we possess strong bench strength. There are two to three high-quality wrestlers in each weight class, although they still have room for improvement. Once the national camp commences, they will benefit from excellent 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, our goal is to provide every wrestler with opportunities to compete. We plan to send various teams to international grand prix events and other smaller tournaments, which will allow us to evaluate their performances. However, it is essential that we dedicate time to the national camp, especially since some athletes are returning from injuries.

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

During the 2022 Asian Championships, India earned 17 medals, with the freestyle team finishing just behind Iran in the men's freestyle category. "We are dissatisfied with this performance, particularly in men's freestyle. Our wrestlers excel in the lower weight categories, but we have fallen short there. It will take time to get the sport back on track. We had built momentum in 2022, but now we must start anew," stated an official from the Wrestling Federation of India.

The national camp is set to commence on April 7. The men's camp will take place at ASI in Pune, while the women's camp will be held at the SAI center in Gandhinagar. This national camp will continue until the world championships in Zagreb, scheduled for September 13-21. Four wrestlers from each weight class will participate in the camp. Additionally, national championships for age-group events will be organized in the upcoming two months, and the international competition schedule for the season is currently being developed.

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