The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has finalized a strong contingent for the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, set to take place in Amman, Jordan, from March 25 to March 30.
The selection trials, held at the IG Sports Complex in New Delhi, witnessed intense battles as top Indian wrestlers vied for a spot on the national team.
With Olympians, World Championship medalists, and rising stars making the cut, Team India is ready to make a mark in this prestigious continental event. Let’s take a closer look at the Indian squad across three categories—Women’s Wrestling, Men’s Freestyle, and Greco-Roman Wrestling.
🇮🇳 Indian Women’s Wrestling Team
India’s women’s wrestling team boasts a mix of experience and young talent, with notable names like Antim Panghal and Reetika Hooda leading the charge.
🔹 50 kg: Ankush (Defeated Neelam in the trials)
🔹 53 kg: Olympian Antim Panghal (Dominated her bouts to confirm her spot)
🔹 55 kg: Nishu
🔹 57 kg: Neha Sharma
🔹 59 kg: Muskan
🔹 62 kg: Manisha (Defeated Mansi 7-0 in the finals)
🔹 65 kg: Monika
🔹 68 kg: Mansi Lathar
🔹 72 kg: Jyoti Berwal
🔹 76 kg: Olympian Reetika Hooda (Unbeaten in trials, avenged her previous loss to Priya Malik)
🔥 Key Highlights:
✅ Antim Panghal proved her dominance once again in the 53 kg category and will aim for her first Asian Championship title.
✅ Reetika Hooda, who competed at the Paris Olympics, displayed her class by remaining unbeaten in trials.
✅ Manisha’s experience shone through as she secured a spot with a commanding 7-0 win over Mansi in the 62 kg category.
🇮🇳 Indian Men’s Freestyle Team
With former Asian Championship medalists and fresh talent, India’s men’s freestyle team is shaping up as a strong unit.
🔹 57 kg: Chirag (Defeated Rahul in the finals; U-23 World Champion)
🔹 61 kg: Udit (Flawless with a 3/3 win record in the trials)
🔹 65 kg: Sujeet
🔹 70 kg: Vishal
🔹 74 kg: Jaideep
🔹 79 kg: Chander Mohan
🔹 86 kg: Mukul Dahiya (Defeated U-23 medalist Sagar Jaglan in a shocking upset)
🔹 92 kg: Deepak Punia (Four-time Asian Championship medalist, eyeing his first gold)
🔹 97 kg: Jointy
🔹 125 kg: Dinesh
🔥 Key Highlights:
✅ Deepak Punia, the World Championship medalist, continues to impress in his new 92kg weight class. He will be aiming to win his first gold medal at the Asian Championships.
✅ Chirag, the 2024 U-23 World Champion, stepped up in the 57kg category, which was previously dominated by Paris Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat.
✅ Mukul Dahiya’s surprise victory over Sagar Jaglan in the 86kg trials marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
🇮🇳 Indian Greco-Roman Team
India’s Greco-Roman wrestling team features a blend of seasoned athletes and rising stars.
🔹 55 kg: Nitin
🔹 60 kg: Sumit
🔹 63 kg: Umesh
🔹 67 kg: Neeraj
🔹 72 kg: Kuldeep
🔹 77 kg: Sagar
🔹 82 kg: Rahul
🔹 87 kg: Sunil
🔹 97 kg: Nitesh
🔹 130 kg: Prem
🔥 Key Highlights:
✅ While the Greco-Roman category has often been India’s weaker area, a new generation of wrestlers is stepping up to change the narrative.
✅ Veterans like Sunil and Nitin will be expected to lead the team with their experience.
🔥 Wrestling Trials: Key Takeaways & Upsets
🔸 Deepak Punia’s Dominance in 92kg: The four-time Asian medalist comfortably defeated Sachin 8-2 in the trials. The question now is—can he finally win his first Asian gold?
🔸 Chirag’s Rise in 57kg: The U-23 World Champion qualified for the senior team by defeating Rahul in the final. With Aman Sehrawat focusing on the Paris Olympics, Chirag has an opportunity to make a statement.
🔸 Reetika Hooda’s Redemption: After losing to Priya Malik at the National Championships, Reetika turned the tables in the trials, defeating Priya 6-0 to book her spot.
🔸 Manisha’s Strong Performance: She showcased her experience by defeating Mansi 7-0 in the 62kg finals, proving she is still one of India’s top contenders.
🔸 Mukul Dahiya’s Surprise Selection at 86kg: With Sagar Jaglan and Sandeep Singh missing out, Mukul grabbed the opportunity and secured his place in the team.
🇮🇳 Road Ahead: India’s Medal Prospects
As India gears up for the Asian Wrestling Championships, there is a lot of optimism surrounding the squad. With seasoned competitors like Deepak Punia, Antim Panghal, and Reetika Hooda, as well as young guns like Chirag and Mukul Dahiya, India is expected to be among the top-performing nations.
The biggest challenge will come from powerhouses like Iran, Japan, and Kazakhstan, who have dominated Asian wrestling for years. However, India’s recent success in international tournaments suggests that the team is ready to challenge the best.
As the countdown to Amman 2025 begins, the focus will now shift to preparations, strategy, and fine-tuning techniques to ensure that Team India brings home multiple medals.
Best Wishes to Team India! 🇮🇳🔥
With a strong squad, excellent form, and a hunger for success, India’s wrestlers are set to make a mark at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2025. Will we see a historic gold medal for Deepak Punia? Will Antim Panghal dominate her category? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—Indian wrestling is on the rise!
