WFI To Host Asian Wrestling Championships 2025 Trials in Delhi On March 15

Add as a preferred source on Google

After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has announced the date for the selection trials ahead of the prestigious Asian Championships.

The trials are scheduled to take place on March 15 at Delhi's IGI Stadium. The Asian Championships are set to commence on March 25 in Amman, Jordan. WFI President Sanjay Singh confirmed the development to myKhel, stating, "The trials will be held on March 15 at the IGI Stadium."

This announcement follows the recent decision by the Sports Ministry to lift the suspension on the WFI, reinstating it as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for wrestling. The ministry had earlier suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023, citing the federation's rushed decision to organise the Under-15 (U-15) and Under-20 (U-20) National Championships without proper consultation.

The WFI elections, held on December 21, 2023, saw Sanjay Singh, a close aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, take charge of the federation. However, controversy arose over the decision to hold the National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda, a region linked to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which reportedly displeased the government.

Recently, the WFI also organised the Federation Cup in Phagwara, where every categories winners (Gold, silver and two bronze medalists ) qualified for the upcoming trials. Additionally, winners from various categories in the National Championships held a few months ago will also participate in the trials.

This season has already seen Indian wrestlers miss two crucial ranking tournaments -- the Zagreb Open and the Muhamet Malo -- due to delays in receiving clearance from the Sports Ministry. The upcoming selection trials will play a pivotal role in ensuring India's wrestlers are prepared for international competition.