U17 World Championship: Six medal winners from the most recent Asian Championships dominated the selection trials to make the Indian national team here on Monday, so there were few shocks in the U17 World Championship squad.
Only the top wrestlers in each of the ten categories had the opportunity to compete, which limited the number of bouts. The Wresting Federation of India (WFI) had limited the tryouts to medal winners from the most recent U17 National Championship.
The gold medal winners from the Asian Championships in Vietnam, Rachna Parmar of Haryana (43 kg), Moni of Delhi (57 kg), Ashvini Vaishno of Rajasthan (65 kg), and Manisha of Haryana (69 kg), took first place in their respective categories.
Rachna defeated Cheshta 3-0 in the final match.
Following a point loss for inactivity, Cheshta attempted the “dhobi pachad” at least twice before losing a point for counterattacking when Rachna defeated her on one of the moves to win handily.
In addition, Cheshta had won a medal at the Asian Championship, a silver in 40 kg, but on Monday she decided to participate in 43 kg.
Both the 65kg and 69kg weight classes had just two wrestlers.
Manisha pinned Delhi Bharti after establishing a commanding 4-0 lead, and Ashvini defeated Taniya of Haryana 2-0 in 65kg.
Because Anshika Yadav’s passport expires in December of this year and a six-month validity is required for visa application, officials delayed her weigh-in, preventing her from competing in the 69kg event.
Preeti (40 kg), Kasish (46 kg), Komal (49 kg), Yashita (61 kg), and Kajal (73 kg) of Uttar Pradesh were the other trial winners.
Komal overcame a 0–2 deficit to overcome bronze medallist Anjali from the Asia Championship.
After a takedown, Anjali led 2-0 and held the advantage till halftime. After being put on clock in the second period, Komal made a fast two-point move in response. In the last moments, she executed another takedown to secure her place on the Indian squad.
Incidentally, Kajal was the only wrestler in the 73kg weight class.
