All posts tagged: Wrestling

Why are shooting, wrestling and badminton not part of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

Why are shooting, wrestling and badminton not part of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

Published by Webster

The Commonwealth Games has long been one of India’s most successful multi-sport events, offering athletes across disciplines a chance to compete for international medals. However, the 2026 edition in Glasgow will look very different from previous Games, with several major sports, including shooting, wrestling, badminton, cricket and hockey, missing from the programme. The decision has sparked concern among athletes and fans, particularly in India, where many of these sports have traditionally contributed a significant share of the country’s medal tally . Why are several Sports missing from Commonwealth Games 2026? The primary reason behind the reduced sports programme is cost management. The 2026 Commonwealth Games were originally awarded to the Australian state of Victoria. However, Victoria withdrew from hosting due to escalating expenses, leaving the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) searching for an alternative host. Glasgow eventually stepped in to stage the Games, but under a significantly leaner and more financially sustainable model. To keep costs under control, organisers have limited the Games to four existing venues located within a compact area of the city. As …

Asian U20 wrestling c’ships trials winner Deepanshu banned for age manipulation

Asian U20 wrestling c’ships trials winner Deepanshu banned for age manipulation

Published by Webster

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has banned five wrestlers for age manipulation in youth tournaments, barring them from all wrestling-related activities for four years. The suspended wrestlers include Deepanshu, the winner of the 65kg freestyle category at the Asian U20 Wrestling Championships trials held in Lucknow on Wednesday. He has been replaced by Pawan Balaji Dhayagude in India’s 65kg freestyle squad for the continental championship, which is scheduled to take place in Thailand later this month. Four other wrestlers, Tanuj Antil, Baljot Singh, Nikhil Dalal, and Saket Drall, were also found guilty of violating the code of conduct by submitting fake birth certificates. “Upon verification with the Registrar, Municipal Corporation, we confirmed that their birth certificates are not genuine. Hence, the wrestlers are hereby suspended from all wrestling-related activities under the aegis of WFI for a period of four years,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday. Show-cause notice to referee Jaibir Singh The WFI has also issued a show-cause notice to Jaibir Singh, a senior referee who officiated at the Asian Games …

Supreme Court declines to expunge Delhi High Court’s observations in Vinesh Phogat case

Supreme Court declines to expunge Delhi High Court’s observations in Vinesh Phogat case

Published by Webster

The Supreme Court headed by Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar declined to expunge the observations made by the Delhi High Court on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in the Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat case on Thursday. The WFI had moved the SC challenging the Delhi HC May 22 judgement that allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials in New Delhi on May 30. The bench noted that the plea moved by WFI had become infructuous since Vinesh had already competed in the trials following the Supreme Court judgement on May 29. Vinesh, however, lost to Meenakshi in the 53kg semifinal. The Bench also clarified that disposal of the regulatory body’s plea would not mean the top court’s affirmation of it. WFI x Vinesh Phogat UPDATE🚨 Supreme Court says the plea filed by Wrestling Federation of India against the Delhi High Court order allowing wrestler Vinesh Phogat to compete in selection trials has become ‘infructuous’ (ineffective or moot) due to subsequent developments.… pic.twitter.com/umcJ2RcqsC — The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) June …

Deepak Punia changes weight category but qualifies for Asian Games | Sports News

Deepak Punia changes weight category but qualifies for Asian Games | Sports News

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 31, 2026 11:52 PM IST Tokyo Olympian wrestler Deepak Punia has experienced a series of misfortunes. In 2024, he missed a flight to Olympic qualifiers and a potential berth. In 2025, he suffered an injury after the World Championships. Now, in 2026, he had to change his weight category due to a muscle injury. Deepak, who has competed in the 86kg and 92kg categories, entered the fray in 97kg at the Asian Games trials in Lucknow on Sunday. However, it didn’t matter much at the end of the day as he pinned Jointy Kumar in the final to win the final and book his Asian Games berth. “I didn’t want to change the weight category. I was prepared for the 86 kg category, but for six days, due to a muscle tear, I couldn’t train. My weight was around 92 kg. As I had no option apart from recovery, I decided to go for the 97 kg category,” Deepak told The Indian Express. Deepak started a little rusty against Sahil Jaglan in …

NADA finds unused syringes and Russian medicines during checks at wrestling trials

NADA finds unused syringes and Russian medicines during checks at wrestling trials

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: May 31, 2026 10:48 PM IST Unused syringes and Russian medicines were found in the bag of a support staff member when the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) unit conducted random checks during the Asian Games wrestling trials at the SAI Center in Lucknow on Sunday. National camps have a strict no-needle policy. However, a NADA official said they were unable to identify the owner of the bag as nobody had come forward to claim it following the random checks. “We don’t know who the bag belongs to, but we have made a report and sent it to our office,” one of the NADA officials told The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity. “After we checked the bag, it has been unattended and nobody has claimed it yet.” The medicines listed on the report were: Neoton (Неотон), Pregma 75, and Atorbet, according to the official.The SAI center hosts the men’s wrestling camp. “Today, for the trials, a lot of kids have come, and we don’t know who is …

Panghal sidesteps Phogat show to book Asian Games ticket

Panghal sidesteps Phogat show to book Asian Games ticket

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 30, 2026 10:29 PM IST On a day when the presence of ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat hogged the limelight, two-time World Championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal reclaimed her standing in the 53 kg category after defeating Meenakshi Goyat in the Asian Games trials final at the IG Indoor Stadium. Antim, who represented India in the 53 kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, suffered a shocking loss against Meenakshi Goyat in the Asian Championships trial earlier this year. In the absence of Vinesh, Antim had owned the 53 kg category for the past two years before losing to Meenakshi. The loss against Meenakshi in the Asian Championships trial had hit Antim like a roadblock. “I lost to Meenakshi di last time in the trials. Before that I rarely lost in the trials and was going to international tours. When I lost the last time, it hit me a little hard,” said Antim. “I realised the importance of winning and worked extra hard this time.” On Saturday, Antim came up with a new …

SC permits Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games trial

SC permits Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games trial

Published by Webster

The Supreme Court permitted two-time World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Gaems selection trials scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 30. The Delhi High Court had earlier granted permission to Vinesh to compete. Hearing the petition from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging the order, the Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe granted permission. “We are not stopping, you go and participate,” Justice Narasimha said. More to follow… Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Vinesh Phogat is the ultimate ‘zidd’ of Indian sport

Vinesh Phogat is the ultimate ‘zidd’ of Indian sport

Published by Webster

A lot has already been written, spoken and discussed about Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India saga. Every layer has already been examined in great detail by journalists, experts and on social media. What’s brewing within the WFI or what preparations Vinesh is quietly undergoing for her big return on May 30 is something no one truly knows. But one thing is clear: the pressure to perform now will be far greater than what she experienced at the 2024 Paris Olympics. While everyone is discussing the chronology of events, very few have touched upon what it means for a woman to return to the elite level while still in her late postpartum. Here’s how I, as a mother, a journalist, and, most importantly, an athlete, look at the entire episode through these three lenses. As a mother, the physical and emotional toll that Vinesh has already undergone is commendable. According to the International Testing Agency (ITA), Vinesh was eligible to compete from January 1, 2026, barely six months after the birth of her …

Mansi, Sumit, Kajal win gold medals

Mansi, Sumit, Kajal win gold medals

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Mansi Lather, Kajal, and Sumit bagged a gold medal apiece as India’s stellar run continued at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Vietnam on Sunday. Mansi put up a dominant display in the 68kg gold medal bout, registering a comprehensive 14-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Firuza Esenbaeva. Kajal was equally impressive in the 76kg final, blanking Kyrgyzstan’s Aizharkyn Zhanybekova 10-0, while Greco-Roman grappler Sumit secured the 63kg title with a 12-2 victory over Uzbekistan’s Ozodbek Khalilboev. Alongside the three gold medals, the Indian contingent also secured two silver and three bronze medals. Sweety fought hard in her final but narrowly went down 5-7 against Vietnam’s Ngoc L. Do to settle for the silver medal. Neha also put up a spirited fight in the 59kg title clash before suffering a 9-5 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan’s Laylokhon Sobirova, bringing home India’s second silver of the day. Meanwhile, Ahilya S. Shinde was impressive in her bronze medal playoff, securing a comprehensive 13-2 win over Kyrgyzstan’s Arruke Kadyrbek Kyzy. In the Greco-Roman category that carried over from the …

Suraj, Sagar win silver medals

Suraj, Sagar win silver medals

Published by Webster

India made an impressive start to its campaign at the U23 Asian Championships by securing five medals on the opening day of the competition at the Tien Son Sport Center in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Saturday. Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh led the charge with silver medals, while Kumar Sachin, Rohit and Hardeep added to the tally with bronze medals in their respective weight categories. Suraj Singh impressed in the 60kg category with a solid run to the final before going down 0-4 against Kazakhstan’s Aibek Aitbekov in the gold medal bout to finish with silver. In the 67kg category, Sagar Singh also produced a commendable performance throughout the tournament. However, he suffered a 0-9 defeat by technical superiority against Uzbekistan’s Aytjan Khalmakhanov in the final and settled for the silver medal. Kumar Sachin added a bronze medal in the 77kg category despite going down 3-10 against Kazakhstan’s Alikhan Dursunov, while Rohit narrowly missed out after suffering a hard-fought 3-5 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Bekhruz Barnoev in the 97kg division. Hardeep also fell short in the …