Fresh Indian Wrestling Squad Eyes U23 World Glory Amid Visa Woes
A fresh Indian wrestling squad is set for the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas, but visa delays threaten the Greco-Roman and Women's contingents.
A revitalized contingent of Indian wrestlers is prepared to battle it out on the global stage at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas. While the squad arrives with high ambitions, a looming administrative shadow has cast uncertainty over the participation of several key athletes due to delayed US visa clearances.
A New Era of Talent
Following a rigorous national trial process, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has deployed a completely fresh roster for this international assignment. This move follows a strict policy implemented this season to prevent top-tier athletes from being overstretched across both senior and age-group competitions. By fielding separate squads for tightly packed schedules, the WFI aims to provide younger grapplers with a dedicated platform to shine.
For these athletes, the Las Vegas championships represent more than just a tournament; they are a vital bridge to the senior international circuit. The squad features several promising names, including Rohit in the 57kg men's freestyle category, Sweety in the women's wrestling division, and Vishvajit More in the Greco-Roman category.
Visa Delays Threaten Squad Size
Despite the enthusiasm of the domestic trial winners, the mission faces a significant hurdle. While the full 10-member men's freestyle team has been cleared for travel, the final lineup for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling categories remains uncertain. Several grapplers in these divisions are still waiting for their US visa approvals, which could lead to a smaller Indian presence than originally planned.
Tournament Schedule
The championships are structured across three distinct phases:
- October 12-14: Greco-Roman competitions
- October 14-16: Women's wrestling events
- October 16-18: Men's freestyle competitions
The Indian Contingent at a Glance
Men’s Freestyle (Full Squad Confirmed)
The freestyle team is ready to move, consisting of:
- Rohit (57kg)
- Vaibhav Narayan Patil (61kg)
- Singh Jaskaran (65kg)
- Sumit Kumar Laxman Bharaskar (70kg)
- Adarsh Yuvraj Patil (74kg)
- Chandermohan (79kg)
- Amit (86kg)
- Nikhil (92kg)
- Shivam (97kg)
- Ronak (125kg)
Women’s Wrestling (Awaiting Visa Clearance)
The women's squad includes:
- Sweety (53kg)
- Komal (59kg)
- Mansi Lather (68kg)
- Amruta Shashikant Pujari (72kg)
- Diksha Malik (76kg)
Greco-Roman (Awaiting Visa Clearance)
The Greco-Roman group features:
- Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg)
- Chetan (63kg)
- Sagar Singh (67kg)
- Sourav Rana (72kg)
- Karan Kamboj (87kg)