Bhubaneswar: It was a disappointing day for India’s Greco-Roman contingent at the U23 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Novi Sad, Serbia, as all four Indian wrestlers in action crashed out in the opening round of their respective weight categories.
In the 63kg division, Gaurav suffered a defeat by technical superiority to Kyrgyzstan’s Kuttubek A Abdurazakov in the 1/8 round, ending his campaign early. Ankit, competing in the 77kg weight class, faced a similar fate as he was outclassed by Serbia’s Zalan Pek in his first bout.
India’s Rohit Bura (87kg) was dominated 0–9 in his qualification match by American wrestler Payton J Jacobson, while Joginder Rathee (130kg) lost by fall against Uzbekistan’s Damirkhon Rakhmatov, rounding off a tough start for the Indian Greco-Roman team.
All four wrestlers were eliminated in their first matches, and their chances of re-entering the competition through repechage now depend on how far their opponents progress in the tournament.
Despite the early setbacks, India still has representatives in other Greco-Roman weight categories — 55kg, 67kg, 72kg, and 97kg — who will look to turn things around and keep the country’s medal hopes alive in the coming days.
The opening round results, however, serve as a reminder of the growing competitiveness in Greco-Roman wrestling at the U23 level, with India needing stronger performances to make a mark on the world stage.
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