Haryana Wrestlers Dominate Asian Games Selection Trials Amid Controversy
Haryana's Strong Representation in Asian Games Wrestling Team
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Vinesh Phogat, wrestlers from Haryana have made a significant impact by securing nearly all positions in the squad for the upcoming Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan this September and October. Notably, many of the runners-up also hailed from Haryana, showcasing the state's wrestling prowess.
In the men's freestyle category, the selected athletes include Aman Sehrawat (57kg) from Birohar village in Jhajjar, Sujeet Kalkal (65kg) from Imlota village in Charkhi Dadri, Sagar Jaglan (74kg) from Panipat, Mukul Dahiya (86kg) from Fatehpur village in Sonepat, Deepak Punia (97kg) from Chhara village in Jhajjar, and Rajat Ruhal (125kg) from Rohad village in Jhajjar.
For the women's division, Haryana wrestlers will represent the nation across all six weight categories. Deepanshi (50kg) is from Rohtak, Antim Panghal (53kg) hails from Bhagana village in Hisar, Manisha Bhanwala (57kg) is from Panipat, Mansi Ahlawat (62kg) comes from Jind, Nisha Dahiya (68kg) is from Sonepat, and Priya Malik (72kg) is also from Jind.
In the Greco-Roman style, the selected wrestlers include Sumit (60kg) from Mandothi village in Jhajjar, Aman (77kg) from Rohna village in Sonepat, Sunil Kumar (87kg) from Sonepat, Nitesh (97kg) from Jagsi village in Panipat, and Deepanshu (130kg) from Rohtak. Deepak (67kg) is from a bordering village in Delhi but trains in Bahadurgarh, Haryana.
Praveen Dahiya, a freestyle coach at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi and a native of Sonepat, noted the long-standing enthusiasm for wrestling among Haryana's youth. He mentioned that parents are increasingly encouraging their children to pursue sports as a career, supported by facilities available at the village and block levels, particularly in Rohtak, Jhajjar, and Sonepat, which contribute significantly to national and international wrestling events.
Dahiya emphasized that even district-level wrestlers from this region are capable of competing nationally, highlighting that all six freestyle wrestlers selected are employed in government positions.
Tejpal Dalal, a wrestling historian from Mandothi village in Jhajjar, remarked that while Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh once produced notable wrestlers, Haryana now leads the Indian wrestling scene. He pointed out that around 80% of participants in the Asian Games trials were from Haryana, urging both the state and central governments to enhance support for wrestling to elevate India's status in the Olympics.