The 2025 Senior National Wrestling Championships, held in Ahmedabad from December 12–14, arrive at a pivotal moment for Indian wrestling.
Not only do they mark the first major domestic competition after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but they also signal the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) full return to administrative control following its reinstatement in March 2025. Against this backdrop of renewal, restructuring, and re-evaluation, the Nationals have taken on heightened significance as India begins charting the path toward the 2026 Asian Games and the next Olympic cycle.
A Tournament of High Stakes and Strategic Recalibration
The Ahmedabad Nationals serve as the foundational benchmark from which the WFI will identify talent for national camps and upcoming international selection trials. In this post-Olympic year traditionally a period of recalibration for elite wrestlers the tournament becomes even more critical, offering early insights into India’s competitiveness for the next two years.
The most defining storyline of the championships is the strategic weight-class shifts undertaken by Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat and two-time World Championships medallist Antim Panghal. Sehrawat, who won bronze in Paris in men’s freestyle 57kg, has moved up to 61kg, while Antim has shifted from women’s 53kg to 55kg.
The rationale behind both decisions is clear, to avoid the physical strain and health risks of repeated weight cuts immediately after an Olympic campaign and to allow the body sufficient recovery before re-entering the intense Olympic grind. Their decisions reflect a growing acceptance within the Indian high-performance ecosystem that long-term athlete welfare must outweigh short-term competitive considerations.
Venue, Format and Infrastructure Test
The event is being staged at the newly built Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, a venue designed to accommodate high-volume competition across all three disciplines: Women’s Wrestling (WW), Men’s Freestyle (FS), and Greco-Roman (GR). Day 1 hosts the women’s categories, Day 2 men’s freestyle, and Day 3 Greco-Roman. Matches run from morning through evening, testing both organizational efficiency and athlete conditioning.
Ahmedabad’s hosting duties also carry symbolic weight. As the city eyes the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the successful execution of the Nationals serves as a critical dry run, demonstrating capacity to manage multi-sport logistics, large delegations, and high-stakes scheduling. The Nationals therefore become not just a wrestling competition, but a broader infrastructure validation exercise for India’s sports-hosting ambitions.
Elite Wrestlers and Rising Contenders
The decision by Aman and Antim to vacate their Olympic categories creates an intriguing competitive vacuum—one that opens pathways for rising wrestlers. For instance, U23 Worlds medalists such as Hansika Lamba (53kg) and Neha Sharma (57kg) stand to benefit from the absence of established stars in these divisions, making the 2025 Nationals a critical platform for the next generation.
The women’s field also includes Manisha Bhanwala, an Asian champion who has dropped to 57kg after previously competing at 62kg. Her entry raises the stakes in a category already brimming with emerging talent. Meanwhile, Olympian Nisha Dahiya returns to the 68kg class following her shoulder injury in Paris, making her performance in Ahmedabad an important indicator of her rehabilitation and readiness for the 2026 cycle.
In men’s freestyle, alongside Aman’s move to 61kg, the spotlight falls on Sujeet Kalkal, the U23 World Champion and former Nationals gold medallist in 65kg. His consistency at this weight class remains crucial for India’s international depth.
Governance Challenges and the RSPB Controversy
The return of the Wrestling Federation of India also brought immediate administrative challenges. Initially, the WFI announced that the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) one of India’s strongest institutional teams would be barred from the Nationals for failing to participate in the 2024 Bengaluru meet. The decision risked stripping the tournament of several top wrestlers, including Olympians. Recognizing the broader implications, the WFI executive board intervened to reverse the decision, restoring participation and ensuring competitive integrity.
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This episode illustrates the WFI’s attempt to balance discipline with pragmatism. For a federation seeking to re-establish credibility, securing the presence of elite athletes was essential not only for the quality of the Nationals but also for the legitimacy of talent identification processes.
The Ahmedabad Nationals are more than a domestic championship they are the first diagnostic tool for India’s competitive readiness heading into a stacked international calendar. For athletes like Aman and Antim, performances in higher weight classes will shape their training arcs, while for younger wrestlers, strong showings could fast-track entry into national camps.
With India set to host major events and with wrestling remaining one of the country’s most reliable medal sports, the outcomes and insights from Ahmedabad will inform not only selection but the strategic blueprint for the 2026 Asian Championships, Asian Games, and early stages of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
In every sense athletic, administrative, and infrastructural the 2025 Senior Nationals mark a crucial moment of renewal and recalibration for Indian wrestling.
