Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Nov 12: Newly crowned world champion Manisha Bhanwala (59kg), along with Asian Games gold medallists Sujeet Kalkal (65kg) and Aman Sehrawat (57kg), will compete in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships scheduled to be held in Polokwane, South Africa, from December 4 to 6.
The three wrestlers will not participate in the selection trials scheduled for Friday to pick the senior teams. As national federations are permitted to field two wrestlers in each weight category, they will be part of the second Indian team. They are understood to have expressed their willingness to participate at their own expense, without financial support from the government.
The championships will also feature U17 and U20 wrestlers. The national contingent could have up to 90 wrestlers, with 30 each in men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling. Including the second senior team, the total strength could go up to 180.
Aman had skipped the recent World Championships, while Sujeet returned without a medal. Indian women wrestlers, however, delivered a historic performance at the event, winning one gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
A source familiar with the developments said Manisha, Sujeet and Aman had requested permission to compete without taking part in the trials, stating that they would bear their own expenses. The move is also expected to provide other wrestlers an opportunity to qualify through the selection process without worrying about the financial arrangements.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had already conducted trials on November 6 to select the U17 and U20 teams. However, the 55kg category in the U20 women's team remains open, with a trial scheduled for Friday.
The additional trial will also provide an opportunity to wrestlers who missed the earlier selection process or narrowly lost in the 53kg and 57kg categories to compete for a place in the team.
The selected wrestlers, including two from the senior category and one each from the U17 and U20 groups, will attend preparatory camps ahead of the championships. The women's team will train at the IG Stadium in New Delhi, while the men's wrestlers will attend a camp at the Sports Authority of India centre in Lucknow.
Following the tournament, the camps will be discontinued temporarily as wrestlers will have to represent their respective states and employers, including the Railway Sports Promotion Board and Services Sports Control Board, in the national championships.