Extended entry deadline granted to India by Global Wrestling Authority

The global governing body of wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), has given tentative approval to the request from the ad-hoc committee in charge, led by Bhupender Bajwa, to extend India's deadline for submitting final entries for the World Championships beyond the initial August 16 cutoff.

Request Acknowledged by UWW

Following a communication sent on July 28 by the Bhupender Bajwa-led committee, UWW has signaled its willingness to move the squad list submission deadline from August 16 to August 26. The purpose behind this extension is to allow India to hold trials and ensure the selection of the final names before confirming the squad.

“We’ve received the response from UWW. It wants us to send entries by number by August 16. Entries by name can be sent later,” Bajwa confirmed.

Operational Plans and Significance

The upcoming elections for the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) office-bearers are scheduled for August 12. Subsequently, the trials for selecting the World Championships squad will be conducted under the new WFI administration's supervision.

The ad-hoc committee is currently crafting a preliminary list, encompassing the wrestlers' names. An official stated that the initial squad would be comprehensive and subject to modifications.

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Supporting Wrestlers' Needs

The relaxation in the deadline will particularly benefit wrestlers who participated in the recent trials and required additional time for recovery and weight adjustment before the fresh trials for the World Championships.

While the Asian Games trials featured six Olympic weight categories, the World Championships trials will incorporate four non-Olympic weight divisions.

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World Championships and Organizational Considerations

Scheduled for September 16-24 in Belgrade, the World Championships will encompass 30 divisions, with 10 divisions each for freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's wrestling. These championships also provide 90 qualifying berths for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

UWW acknowledged the necessity for trials ahead of the event, but also stressed the importance of organizers having an accurate participant count for logistical reasons. UWW's competition rules permit substitutions due to injury or poor form within a specific timeframe leading up to the event.