In a significant move towards transparency and fairness, the Ad-hoc Committee for the Wrestling Federation of India has officially revealed the comprehensive Selection Policy for the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. The outlined policy aims to establish a clear pathway for determining the athletes who will have the honor of representing India on the global wrestling stage.
Qualifying Events
The road to Paris 2024 will include two crucial qualifying events:
Asian Olympic Qualifier: Scheduled for 19-21 April 2024 in Kyrgyzstan.
World Olympic Qualifiers: Taking place from 9-12 May in Turkey.
Selection of Athletes
Notably, Olympic berths will be granted to the country rather than individual wrestlers. Antim (53 Kg WW) has already secured a quota at the 2023 World Senior Wrestling Championships. In total, there are 17 quotas available, distributed among Freestyle (FS), Greco-Roman (GR), and Women’s Wrestling (WW) categories.
Selection Trials
Scheduled for 27-29 February 2024, the trials will cover 30 weight categories. Different trial formats are set for Olympic and non-Olympic weight categories, with Antim (53 kg WW) exempt from the February trials.
Eligibility Criteria for February Trials
Athletes eligible for the February trials include participants in the 2022 Asian Games and the 2023 Senior World Championships, international medallists, winners of open trials in 2023 (U-17, U-20, U-23), and medallists from the 2023 All Senior Nationals and National Games.
Final Trials for Paris Olympics:
The culmination of the selection process will occur on 31 May – 01 June 2024. A two-step process for Olympic weight categories includes determining a Challenger on 31 May 2024, followed by a Wrestle-off on 01 June 2024 between the Challenger and the Olympic quota winner.
National Coaching Camp
Wrestlers placing in the top four at the Senior National Wrestling Championship 2023, along with medal winners from the 2023 Wrestling Senior World Championships and Asian Games 2022, will be part of the National Coaching Camp.
Other Important Points
To maintain fairness, a weight tolerance of 1kg is allowed for all trials. An ad-hoc committee will address unforeseen scenarios, and the policy will remain valid until the completion of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In concluding the press release, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, a Member of the Ad-hoc Committee for the Wrestling Federation of India, emphasized the committee’s commitment to a fair and transparent selection process. The unveiled policy is designed to ensure that the best athletes have the opportunity to represent India at the prestigious Paris Olympics in 2024.