India’s 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat is all set to return to competitive action later this month at the third UWW Ulaanbaatar World Ranking Series, scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from May 29 to June 1.
This will be Sehrawat’s first international tournament of the 2025 season, as he gets back on the mat with an eye on building momentum ahead of the World Wrestling Championships in September.
Sehrawat Returns to 57kg Mat After Break
Sehrawat, India’s star in the 57kg freestyle category, was exempted from the national selection trials owing to his bronze medal finish at the Paris Olympics and consistent performances in recent years.
He had skipped the selection trials for the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships due to personal reasons but remains a core part of India’s Olympic-cycle plans.
Now, with full fitness and renewed focus, Sehrawat is back in contention as one of two wrestlers India will field in the 57kg freestyle category in Mongolia. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is using the opportunity provided by UWW’s rules—which allow two entries per nation in one weight category at ranking events—to give Sehrawat a competitive run alongside Rahul, who also made the cut in the 57kg group.
A WFI official stated: “There is a provision to send two wrestlers in one weight category for the World Ranking Series. Therefore, we want to give Sehrawat a chance to polish his skills ahead of the World Championships.”
National Trials Shape India’s Squad for Mongolia
The WFI recently conducted national selection trials at the SAI campus in Lucknow on May 12, identifying wrestlers in categories where India didn’t medal during the Asian Wrestling Championships held in April in Amman, Jordan.
Those who had won medals at the continental event—including Sehrawat—were exempt from the process.
The selected men’s freestyle team for the Mongolia ranking series is as follows:
- 57kg: Aman Sehrawat, Rahul
- 61kg: Udit
- 65kg: Rohit
- 70kg: Vishal Kaliraman
- 74kg: Jaideep
- 79kg: Amit
- 86kg: Ashish
- 92kg: Deepak Punia
- 97kg: Vicky
- 125kg: Dinesh
Meanwhile, the Greco-Roman team includes:
- 55kg: Anil Mor
- 60kg: Suraj
- 63kg: Chetan
- 67kg: Neeraj
- 72kg: Ankit Gulia
- 77kg: Nishant Phogat
- 82kg: Prince
- 87kg: Karan Kamboj
- 97kg: Nitesh
- 130kg: Prem
Trials for Women Scheduled
The women’s freestyle selection trials will take place on May 13 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, completing India’s contingent for the Mongolia tour.
The trials come at a time when Indian wrestling is returning to normalcy. The national camps for men and women resumed this month after a two-year hiatus caused by protests and administrative suspension.
The men’s camp began on May 1 in Lucknow, while the women’s camp is underway at IG Stadium, Delhi.
WFI Rebuilding Post Suspension
The Wrestling Federation of India was under suspension by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for an extended period, leading to a lack of national camps and halted athlete development. However, with the suspension revoked earlier this year, Indian wrestling is seeing a much-needed return to structure and routine.
A senior wrestling coach said, “This tour to Mongolia is not just another ranking event—it’s an important step for athletes like Aman Sehrawat to recalibrate, test themselves, and get international mat time before the World Championships.”
The Road Ahead
The UWW World Ranking Series in Mongolia will be pivotal in setting the tone for India’s build-up to the World Championships, with valuable ranking points up for grabs. For Sehrawat, it’s not just a return to action—it’s the beginning of a crucial chapter in his post-Olympic career.
As India fields a strong 21-member men’s contingent across freestyle and Greco-Roman styles, all eyes will be on Ulaanbaatar to see how the wrestlers perform on the global stage—and whether Aman Sehrawat can once again deliver a statement performance.
