The Indian wrestling team for the Asian Games 2023 will be led by Bajrang Punia (men’s 65kg) and Vinesh Phogat (women’s 53kg) but Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Ravi Dahiya failed to make the cut after a first-round exit in the trials.
While Punia and Vinesh Phogat received direct entries to the Games, trials were still conducted in their respective categories to determine standbys.
Vishal Kaliraman will be the standby for Punia in the 65kg division after winning the final against Rohit. While Antim Panghal will be a standby for Phogat.
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However, Dahiya's hopes were dashed as he suffered an early exit in the trials, failing to secure a spot in the men's 57kg category. Aman Sehrawat, an Asian and U23 world champion, clinched the quota for the category after defeating Rahul in the final.
In the men's 86kg category, Olympian Deepak Punia beat Jonty in the final to qualify.
The men's freestyle section saw Yash, Vicky, and Sumit claim the slots in the 74kg, 97kg, and 125kg categories, respectively.
In the women's category, Sarita Mor and Anshu Malik will miss the flight to Guangzhou. Mor secured a victory against Anshu in the women's 57kg category but was later defeated by Mansi Ahlawat in the semi-finals.
Pooja Gehlot, who won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, earned the ticket in the 50kg category, while Sonam Malik won the 62kg trials.
Another Olympic medallist in Sakshi Malik will not travel to the Asian Games after she abstained from competing in the trials.
In the 68kg, Radhika won the trials while Kiran beat Divya Kakran in the 76 kg category.
MORE: Why were Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia exempted from Asian Games trials?
Asian Games 2023 Indian wrestling team - full squad
Greco-Roman
- Gyanender - 60kg
- Neeraj - 67kg
- Vikash - 77kg
- Sunil Kumar - 87kg
- Narinder Cheema - 97kg
- Naveen - 130kg
Women’s freestyle
- Pooja Gehlot - 50kg
- Vinesh Phogat - 53kg (Antim Panghal standby)
- Mansi Ahlawat - 57kg
- Sonam Malik - 62kg
- Radhika - 68kg
- Kiran - 76kg
Men’s freestyle
- Aman Sehrawat - 57kg
- Bajrang Punia - 65kg (Vishal Kaliraman standby)
- Yash - 74kg
- Deepak Punia - 86kg
- Vicky - 97kg
- Sumit - 125kg