Indian Wrestlers: Senior Worlds Trials Possible?
US Visa Setback: Could Indian U23 Wrestlers Get Another Shot at the Senior World Championships?
With the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas starting October 12, the Wrestling Federation of India is considering selection bouts that could give some wrestlers denied US visas another opportunity to represent India at the Senior Worlds in Kazakhstan.
Indian wrestlers facing visa problems ahead of the U23 World Wrestling Championships could receive an unexpected second opportunity, with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) considering selection bouts for the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The proposal comes after several Indian wrestlers were denied US visas, putting their participation in the Las Vegas competition in jeopardy.
According to The New Indian Express, the federation is considering giving two Greco-Roman wrestlers, Samarth Gajanan Mhakave and Dheeraj Kumar Malik, a chance to challenge the wrestlers already selected for the senior team. A similar arrangement could be considered for two women wrestlers if their US visa issues remain unresolved. The WFI was expected to discuss the proposal on Monday, October 12, but the trials had not been confirmed in the report.
Why Were Indian Wrestlers Denied US Visas?
The visa controversy emerged ahead of the U23 World Championships, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from October 12 to 18. The US Embassy in New Delhi reportedly refused visas to nine of the 16 wrestlers who attended an initial round of interviews. The reported reasons included the athletes’ age and employment status.
The situation caused concern within Indian wrestling because many competitors in the U23 category are still developing their careers and are not formally employed. The WFI had approached international wrestling authorities for help after the refusals.
A WFI official had earlier expressed disappointment over the decision, telling The New Indian Express: “How can they deny visas on the ground of age and employment?” The federation also sought intervention from United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling in an effort to resolve the issue.
Samarth Mhakave and Dheeraj Malik Could Get Selection Bouts
The latest proposal could give Mhakave a chance in the men’s 60kg Greco-Roman category and Malik an opportunity at 77kg. Both were among the wrestlers affected by the visa problem.
Harsh of Delhi and Luvepreet Singh of the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) had won the trials for the senior World Championships in the respective weight categories. Under the proposal, Mhakave and Malik could each be asked to compete against the selected wrestler for the final place in the squad, provided the federation reaches a consensus.
A WFI official told The New Indian Express that the federation would discuss whether the additional bouts could be arranged. This means the opportunity remains conditional rather than a confirmed change to the selection process.
The Senior World Championships are scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. The short gap between the two competitions makes the selection decision particularly important for the wrestlers involved.
Could Parveen and Neha Also Get Another Opportunity?
The federation is also monitoring the visa situation affecting the women’s team. Parveen, selected in the 50kg category, and Neha, selected in the 62kg category, could be offered selection bouts if their visas are not secured in time for the U23 competition.
The WFI was still hoping that the remaining women wrestlers would receive clearance before their events began. If that did not happen, the federation could consider allowing Parveen and Neha to challenge the wrestlers selected for the senior team.
The proposal would give the affected athletes another route to international competition, but it depends on the visa situation and the federation’s final decision. No additional selection bouts should be treated as confirmed until the WFI announces its position.
India’s Greco-Roman Team Faces a Crucial Decision
The potential trials come after a challenging Asian Games campaign for India’s Greco-Roman wrestlers. Sumit Dalal competed in the 60kg category and Aman in the 77kg category at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, but both finished without medals. India did, however, secure medals through Nitesh Siwach, who won silver in the 97kg category, and Sunil Kumar, who claimed bronze in the 87kg category.
For Mhakave and Malik, the proposed bouts could provide a chance to challenge for a place at the senior level. For the WFI, the decision involves balancing the existing selection results with the circumstances faced by athletes who may miss an international championship through no fault of their performances on the mat.
The Indian wrestlers visa row has therefore become more than a question of participation at the U23 Worlds. With the Senior World Championships approaching in Astana, the federation’s decision could determine whether some of the affected wrestlers receive another opportunity to compete internationally this season.
