Following a historic outing at the 2024 U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Amman, Jordan, the Wrestling Federation of India has announced a full-strength squad for the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 edition of the continental event.
India had topped the medal tally last year with a total of 19 medals—including seven golds—and will look to build on that momentum with a fresh crop of young grapplers.
The upcoming U23 Asian Championships will once again serve as a platform to showcase India’s emerging wrestling talent across Women’s Freestyle, Men’s Freestyle, and Greco-Roman categories.
Indian Team for U23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2025
Women’s Freestyle Team:
- 50 kg: Vinita
- 53 kg: Hinaben
- 55 kg: Reena
- 57 kg: Neha Sharma
- 59 kg: Tanvi
- 62 kg: Pragati
- 65 kg: Shiksha
- 68 kg: Srishti
- 72 kg: Jyoti
- 76 kg: Priya
This squad features a mix of returning names and exciting newcomers. Priya, who starred in 2024 with a gold medal, will be aiming to defend her crown, while others like Neha Sharma and Vinita have earned their call-ups following consistent national-level performances.
Men’s Freestyle Team:
- 57 kg: Ankush
- 61 kg: Nikhil
- 65 kg: Sujeet
- 70 kg: Sagar
- 74 kg: Jaideep
- 79 kg: Chander
- 86 kg: Sagar
- 92 kg: Sachin
- 97 kg: Vicky
- 125 kg: Jaspooran
India’s men’s freestyle team is packed with talent, including Jaideep, who won silver in 2024, and Sujeet, who’s shown immense promise on the junior circuit. The squad will aim to replicate the dominant show from last year when India finished top of the table in the freestyle category.
Greco-Roman Team:
- 55 kg: Rishav
- 60 kg: Samarth
- 63 kg: Sumit
- 67 kg: Umesh
- 72 kg: Ankit
- 77 kg: Aman
- 82 kg: Prince
- 87 kg: Rohit
- 97 kg: Nitesh
- 130 kg: Uttam
India’s Greco-Roman team had a breakthrough at the 2024 edition, securing six medals (4 silver, 2 bronze), marking a significant leap in a style traditionally dominated by Central Asian nations. Wrestlers like Rohit, who took home a silver medal last year, return to lead the charge in 2025.
A Look Back: India’s 2024 U23 Domination
At the 2024 edition in Amman, Indian wrestlers delivered their best-ever performance at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships, topping the medal tally in freestyle and making a mark in Greco-Roman and women’s categories. Highlights included:
- Freestyle Gold Medals: Abhimanyu (70 kg), Jointy Kumar (92 kg), Sahil Jaglan (97 kg), Anirudh Kumar (125 kg)
- Freestyle Silvers: Rohit (65 kg), Jaideep (74 kg)
- Freestyle Bronzes: Shubham (57 kg), Amit (79 kg)
- Women’s Gold Medals: Meenakshi (50 kg), Pushpa Yadav (59 kg), Priya Malik (76 kg)
- Greco-Roman Medals: 4 silvers, 2 bronzes – marking India’s best-ever tally in this category.
India’s combined medal haul of 19 reflected the growing depth and breadth of the wrestling program at the U23 level, aligning well with the country’s long-term Olympic ambitions.
Building the Bridge to Senior Success
With the U17 team also securing a strong medal haul at the same venue just a week prior, the success of Indian age-group wrestlers has reaffirmed the effectiveness of India’s grassroots wrestling programs. The transition from U17 to U23 is critical, and the exposure gained through events like these helps prepare wrestlers for senior continental and global competitions.
The 2025 edition will now serve as a crucial testing ground for the next generation, with many of these wrestlers already eyeing places in the senior national squad ahead of the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Given the momentum from last year, expectations are high. India’s challenge will come from traditional wrestling powerhouses such as Kazakhstan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, but with a well-rounded squad and recent pedigree, the Indian contingent will be aiming to top the medal tally once again.
All eyes will be on this young team as they look to cement India’s growing status in Asian wrestling and continue the country’s golden run at the U23 level.
By IndiaSportsHub
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