India U-23 Wrestling Worlds squad set; visa delays cloud Greco-Roman, women's draws
Synopsis
India's freshest wrestling talent heads to Las Vegas for the U-23 World Championships on 12 October — but an administrative snag could sideline key competitors before the first whistle. US visa delays are leaving the Greco-Roman and women's squads in limbo, even as the men's freestyle team of 10 is fully cleared to compete.
Key Takeaways
India's U-23 wrestling squad is set to compete at the World Championships in Las Vegas from 12–18 October .
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) enforced a strict no-overlap policy, fielding an entirely fresh roster from domestic trials.
The full 10-member men's freestyle team is cleared to travel; Greco-Roman and women's wrestling squads face US visa delays.
Key athletes include Rohit (57kg) , Sweety (53kg) , and Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg) .
Greco-Roman events open on 12 October , leaving minimal time for pending visa approvals.
A fresh batch of Indian wrestlers is set to compete at the U-23 World Championships in Las Vegas beginning 12 October, after a rigorous national trial process — even as unresolved US visa clearances threaten to reduce the squad's presence in the Greco-Roman and women's wrestling categories.
A New-Look Roster by Design
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has enforced a strict policy this season of fielding entirely separate squads for back-to-back international assignments. The approach, heavily implemented during the recent Asian Games and Senior World trials, bars top athletes from overlapping across senior and age-group events. The result is a completely fresh roster for Las Vegas, drawn exclusively from domestic trial winners at the U-23 level.
The squad is headlined by Rohit (57kg) in men's freestyle, Sweety (53kg) in women's wrestling, and Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg) in Greco-Roman — each of them looking to convert past domestic success into a world-stage result.
Visa Delays Threaten Greco-Roman and Women's Draws
While the full 10-member men's freestyle contingent has received clearance to travel, the starting lineup for the Greco-Roman and women's wrestling categories remains uncertain. Several grapplers in both disciplines are yet to receive their US visa approvals, leaving the WFI unable to confirm a complete squad. The issue is administrative, according to reports, and not performance-related.
This is not an isolated problem in Indian sport — US visa delays have previously disrupted participation in international competitions across athletics, boxing, and wrestling. The timing is particularly challenging given that Greco-Roman action opens the championships on 12 October, leaving little room for last-minute approvals.
Schedule and Format
The U-23 World Championships unfolds over six days across three disciplines. Greco-Roman bouts are scheduled for 12–14 October, followed by women's wrestling from 14–16 October, and concluding with men's freestyle from 16–18 October. India's freestyle team — the only contingent fully confirmed — will therefore compete in the final phase of the tournament.
Confirmed Squad (Visa Clearances Pending for GR and Women's)
Men's Freestyle: Rohit (57kg), Vaibhav Narayan Patil (61kg), Singh Jaskaran (65kg), Sumit Kumar Laxman Bharaskar (70kg), Adarsh Yuvraj Patil (74kg), Chandermohan (79kg), Amit (86kg), Nikhil (92kg), Shivam (97kg), Ronak (125kg).
Women's Wrestling: Sweety (53kg), Komal (59kg), Mansi Lather (68kg), Amruta Shashikant Pujari (72kg), Diksha Malik (76kg).
Greco-Roman: Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg), Chetan (63kg), Sagar Singh (67kg), Sourav Rana (72kg), Karan Kamboj (87kg).
Whether the full squad ultimately competes will depend on how quickly the remaining visas are processed ahead of the championship's opening bouts.
Point of View
Leaving no buffer for consulate processing times. The Greco-Roman draw opens on the very first day of the championships. If those athletes miss their weight classes through administrative delay rather than competitive shortfall, that is an institutional failure, not a sporting one — and it will not be the first time Indian grapplers paid the price for it.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the U-23 Wrestling World Championship 2026?
The U-23 Wrestling World Championship is being held in Las Vegas, USA, from 12 to 18 October 2026. Greco-Roman events run from 12–14 October, women's wrestling from 14–16 October, and men's freestyle from 16–18 October.
Which Indian wrestlers are confirmed for the U-23 Worlds?
The full 10-member men's freestyle team — led by Rohit (57kg) — is confirmed to travel. The Greco-Roman squad, led by Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg), and the women's team, led by Sweety (53kg), are confirmed in selection but pending US visa clearances.
Why are some Indian wrestlers facing visa delays?
Several Greco-Roman and women's wrestling grapplers have not yet received US visa approvals, according to reports. The delays are administrative in nature and unrelated to athlete eligibility or selection.
What is the WFI's squad rotation policy?
The Wrestling Federation of India has enforced a strict rule this season barring athletes from representing India in both senior and U-23 competitions in the same cycle. This ensures that U-23 events are contested by trial winners at that age level, without overlap from senior squad members.
Who are the key wrestlers to watch for India at the U-23 Worlds?
The three headline names are Rohit (57kg, men's freestyle), Sweety (53kg, women's wrestling), and Vishvajit Ramchandra More (55kg, Greco-Roman). All three are domestic trial winners with previous international exposure.
