Wrestling trials for 2024 Paris Olympics Qualifiers set to be held in March: Report

The wrestling selection trials for the 2024 Paris Olympics Qualifiers and the Asian Championships, that was earlier postponed, will now be held in March, the ad-hoc committee announced on Friday. The trials were previously scheduled to be held between 27 and 29 February, but now it will be held on 10 and 11 March, according to a report in the Hindustan Times. The trials have been postponed keeping in mind of some “unavoidable circumstances” amid the delay in conducting the wrestling National Championships that got over in Jaipur on Monday.

“The winner of the trials in the Olympic weight category will get to represent India in upcoming Olympic qualifiers like the Asian Olympic Qualifiers (April 19-21) and World Olympic Qualifiers (May 9-12). The winners in non-Olympic weight categories will represent India in Senior Asian Championships (April 11-16). The runners up in Olympic weight categories at the trials will represent India at the Senior Asian Championships,” ad-hoc committee chairman Bhupender Singh Bajwa said via a statement.

Vinesh Phogat recently returned to the mat after 15 months at the Wrestling Nationals in Jaipur. Phogat went onto clinch a gold medal in the 55kg category, whereas Panghal did not participate.

According to the rules set by the United World Wrestling (UWW), the country earns the Olympic quota and not the wrestler, and that means there could be a significant clash between Phogat and Panghal.

“The ad hoc committee formulated a selection policy last year and trials will be conducted in accordance with the same. The trials will be held across 10 weight classes — six Olympic and four non-Olympic. All top wrestlers — Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Deepak Punia, Vinesh Phogat — will have to appear in trials to stake a claim for the Olympics,” an official was quoted as sying by the Hindustan Times.

Antim Panghal has been the only wrestler to secure an Olympic quota and as a result, she will get a direct entry into the Asian Championships. The wrestlers can secure at least 17 more quotas from the two qualifiers that remain.