Railway team made a comeback at the national level after a gap of two years. Due to petty politics the departmental team was denied entry in the past two editions.

National wrestling championships generally throw new talent. The results of the 2025 edition of the national wrestling championships held at Ahmedabad in Gujarat from December 12 to 14 however went on expected lines.

Except, Railways that has a galaxy of Indian wrestlers in their ranks made a comeback at national meet after a gap of two years. Due to petty politics the departmental team was denied entry in the past two editions. Railway team won both men’s freestyle and Greco Roman trophies. “It was good that wrestlers from Railway were able to compete at the national level after a gap of two long years,” Kirpa Shankar Patel, Railway wrestling team coach said. “The National championship is a good platform to showcase your potential and cement a place in the national team.”

Paris Olympic Games bronze medallist, Aman Sehrawat, was the outright winner in the men’s 61kg freestyle event in Ahmedabad.

Since men’s 61kg is a non-Olympic weight group, it is certain Sehrawat will either move to 65kg or move back to 57kg in the 2026 season that will feature Asian Games.

The Olympic Games bronze medallist generally competes in the 57kg but this time he didn’t prune his weight to compete in the lower weight category.

Weight issue

Pruning weight is a common phenomenon in combat sports, including wrestling, before the main competition. Sometimes reducing weight can turn out to be a nightmare for wrestlers.  

For failing to maintain his weight (57kg) at the time of weighing-in during World Championships in Zagreb, Sehrawat was banned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on disciplinary grounds. However, his ban was revoked and he was able to compete at the national level.

The weight issue had also denied India’s three-time Olympian, Vinesh Phogat, a chance to secure a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Before her gold medal bout in the women’s 50kg freestyle event, Vinesh was overweight at the time of weighing-in. She was disqualified.

As expected Sujeet Kalkal, the World U23 champion, has cemented his place in the men’s 65kg freestyle event and he went on to win gold in Ahmedabad.

In the absence of India’s star freestyle wrestler and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, who is facing four years suspension from 2024 for refusing a urine sample to NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency), Sujeet will be one to watch in 65kg category in the future.

Olympian and World medallist Antim Panghal also moved to 55kg, a non-Olympic weight group, from 53kg. She was the winner of 55kg group.

ENDS