Walk in the park: Aman spent less than 15 minutes in total on the mat.
| Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA
There was none of the drama or controversy that marked the women’s trials, but the men’s selection trials on Sunday were not short on action and excitement, with many of the top wrestlers ensuring their tickets to the Asian Games.
Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat brooked no resistance, winning the 57kg final against Rahul 11-1 with more than two minutes left to assert his supremacy in the category.
Aman — who won both his earlier bouts on technical superiority — spent less than 15 minutes in total on the mat at the Sports Authority of India’s regional centre for his victory through the day even as Atish Todkar, expected to challenge him, was shocked in the opening round itself.
In the 65kg category, Sujeet Kalkal, too, burnished his credentials with a hard-fought 2-0 win in the final against Vishal Kaliraman despite being at less than optimum fitness. Kalkal, who suffered a knock on his knees in his semifinal against Nikhil, had to dig deep against a fighting Kaliraman before sealing his spot.
However, favourite and rising star Abhimanyou, the recently crowned Asian champion and former under-23 Asian champion in the 70kg, was among the notable upsets of the day, losing 2-2 in the 74kg quarterfinals to Yash on the basis of last point won. Abhimanyou, who received a bye in the opening round, had an easy 13-2 win in the second round.
Also making his quarterfinal exit in the same category was Chander Mohan, who won the under-23 Asian title in the 79kg last week even as Sagar Jaglan beat Jaideep 8-6 in the final to qualify for the continental event.
Former 86kg World and Asian medallist Deepak Punia, gradually climbing up the weight categories and competing in the 97kg here, got the better of Jointy Kumar in the final, pinning his opponent to the mat on the edge of the fighting circle while leading 5-0 late in the night.
Indian squad: Men: 57kg: Aman Sehrawat; 65kg: Sujeet Kalkal; 74kg: Sagar Jaglan; 86kg: Mukul Dahiya; 97kg: Deepak Punia; 125kg: Rajat. Greco-Roman: 60kg: Sumit; 67kg: Deepak; 77kg: Aman; 87kg: Sunil; 97kg: Nitesh Kumar; 130kg: Deepanshu.
Published – May 31, 2026 09:03 pm IST
