Wrestling News: Olympic qualifier trials for wrestling likely on March 16

As Tokyo Olympics are approaching near, Indian wrestlers are gearing themselves up for a major hurdle before the marquee event, the qualifiers. So far, only four Indian wrestlers Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) and Vinesh Phogat (53kg) have qualified for the mega event and more from the lot are yet to try their luck in the much-awaited selection trials to pick freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers for the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier and Asian Championships, which are likely to be held in New Delhi on March 16. A final announcement in this regard is expected to be made by the Wrestling Federation of India in a day or two. Intriguingly, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has not yet expressed his willingness to compete in the trials. Both the qualifier and continental event are scheduled in Almaty, Kazakhstan next month. The Olympic qualifier will be held from April 9 to 11 followed by the Asian Championships from April 13 to 18. Trials, however, will be held only in Olympic weight categories. Trials to select wrestlers from non-Olympic weight categories for the continental championships will be held at a later date