Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal Make The Cut For World Wrestling Championships
Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal have secured their spots in the India squad for the upcoming World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb.
Paris Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat faced minimal resistance in the World Championships selection trials, while Sujeet Kalkal showcased impressive counter-attacking skills to secure his place in the national team for the men's freestyle 65kg weight category in Lucknow on Monday.
Next month's World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, will be Sehrawat's second international event since he won bronze in the French capital in 2024.
The 22-year-old Sehrawat earned bronze at the Mongolia Ranking Series event in June, marking his return to competitive wrestling. On Monday, he appeared sharper than he did in Mongolia.
In his opening bout against Sumit, the only points Sehrawat conceded were push-out points, as his double-leg attacks dominated the match. He won by technical superiority within the first period.
The final against Rahul was also one-sided, with Sehrawat winning by technical superiority without conceding a point. Sehrawat had Rahul in a head-lock position early on, scoring a push-out point. A right leg-attack led to a two-point takedown.
Sehrawat moved swiftly on the court, executing clear moves that prevented Rahul from mounting any offense, and finished the final with authority.
'I feel I am back to my best. My fitness is good and my rhythm is also back. I am ready for World Championships," Sehrawat told news agency PTI.
'I understand that I made a few mistakes in the Mongolia Ranking Series, but that was my first competition after a year. I feel I didn't do that bad, I was even leading 11-6, but I will take that defeat in my stride," he said.
Aman has not yet won a senior World Championship medal. He has won medals at the 2022 Asian Games (bronze) and the 2023 Asian Championship (gold).
The men's freestyle 65kg competition was intense, with Sujeet Kalkal emerging victorious. The youngster from Charkhi Dadri showed remarkable improvement from his performance a year ago.
His solid defense against both Anuj (10-0) and Vishal Kaliraman (8-4) was noteworthy, as he turned adverse positions into point-scoring opportunities with impressive counter-attacking moves.
There has been a void in the men's 65kg class since star wrestler Bajrang Punia ceased competing in the category, and Kalkal is gradually making this weight class his own. His mat movement and speed have improved significantly.
'We have worked on his strength over the past year. With age, he has gained power as well. He had an ankle injury some time back and used the time to improve his strength," said his father and coach, Dayanand Kalkal.
'His defense was already good; we needed to work on his attack, which was a bit loose, I would say. It has improved," he added.
'His resistance power has also improved. It will only get better," remarked coach Kuldeep Sehrawat, who also trained him at his akhada in Sonepat.
Deepak Punia, who has moved to 92kg after competing in 86kg at the Tokyo Olympics, also secured his place in the national team with dominant wins.
The 'ketli pehalwan' needed only 73 seconds to defeat Manjeet (SSCB) before prevailing over Haryana's Sachin.
Mukul Dahiya, who qualified for the U20 World Championships, also made the senior squad in the 86kg category. His victories over Sachin Jaglan (technical superiority) and Ashish (7-2) demonstrated his potential as a future prospect for India.
Haryana's Amit, who trains at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, also made an impression. His fast-paced moves and remarkable mat movement earned him a place in the Indian team in the 79kg category.
His four-pointers against Parvinder were a delight to watch. Despite suffering a knee injury in the final against Services' Chander Mohan, Amit prevailed 9-6. Surprisingly, Chander Mohan did not attack much despite seeing his rival struggling after twisting his left knee.
The 74kg category was a single-bout affair with only two entries received. Jaideep secured his place with a 12-6 win despite suffering a severe knee injury.
Rohit, who previously competed in 65kg, secured his place in the 70kg category by defeating Sidharth (6-2) and Sagar (6-1). He received a walkover from Ashwani.
Talented wrestlers Udit (61kg), Vickey (97kg), and Rajat (125kg) also made the freestyle squad.
'Sujeet beat Russian and Kazakhstan wrestlers in Hungary. He has progressed rapidly. He navigates tricky bouts like Sushil used to. He will be an Olympic medal contender," said India coach Vinod Kumar.
'Udit is also emerging fast. He has transitioned well from juniors to senior level. He is young and does not get intimidated by big names. In the coming years, he will also be a great prospect for India," he added.
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August 05, 2025, 09:47 IST
News sports Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal Make The Cut For World Wrestling Championships
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