New-look India squad at U23 Wrestling Worlds in Las Vegas; visas cloud two teams
Representative image: 12019 / Pixabay
U23 World Wrestling Championships open in Las Vegas on October 12, 2026; India's freestyle team is cleared, Greco-Roman and women's line-ups hit by visa doubts.
What Happened
The U23 World Wrestling Championships open in Las Vegas, United States, on Monday, October 12, 2026, and India has entered a completely new set of young wrestlers for the week-long event, which runs until October 18. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) picked the squad through national trials, in line with its policy of naming separate teams for international events that fall close together. The ten-member men's freestyle team has been cleared to travel, but reports on October 11 said the final line-ups for the Greco-Roman and women's events were still uncertain because several wrestlers had not received US visas.
Key Facts
- The championships run from October 12 to 18, 2026, in Las Vegas: Greco-Roman from October 12 to 14, women's wrestling from October 14 to 16 and men's freestyle from October 16 to 18.
- India's men's freestyle squad has ten wrestlers, led by Rohit at 57kg, and all have been cleared to travel.
- The Greco-Roman squad is led by Vishvajit Ramchandra More at 55kg, with Chetan, Sagar Singh, Sourav Rana and Karan Kamboj also named.
- The women's squad named for the event includes Sweety at 53kg, Komal, Mansi Lather, Amruta Shashikant Pujari and Diksha Malik.
- On October 7, nine of the 16 Indian wrestlers who attended visa interviews at the US Embassy in New Delhi were refused, according to reports. The WFI said they were told the reason was that they were under 20 and not formally employed.
- Neha Sangwan, the 2024 U17 world champion, was among the wrestlers refused a visa.
- At the 2025 edition in Novi Sad, Serbia, India won nine medals: one gold, two silver and six bronze, including a men's freestyle gold for Sujeet Kalkal and India's first women's team title at U23 level.
Why It Matters
The U23 World Championships are the last step between junior wrestling and the senior international circuit. For wrestlers aged roughly 18 to 23, a medal here is often what brings a place in national camps, sponsorship interest and selection for senior events. India has built a strong record at this level in recent years, and the women's team title in 2025 showed how deep the country's young talent now runs.
That is why the visa problem stings. The WFI argued that the event is meant for wrestlers between 18 and 23, and that most athletes of that age are still building their sporting careers rather than holding formal jobs. The federation asked the embassy to reconsider. Being young and without a salaried job is the normal situation for an athlete at this stage, so a rule of thumb that treats it as a risk factor falls hardest on exactly the people the championship is designed for. Until the final entries are confirmed, India cannot be sure how many of its Greco-Roman and women wrestlers will actually step on the mat.
The decision to send a fresh squad is also worth noting. By giving a different group of wrestlers international exposure rather than sending the same names to every event, the federation widens its pool for the next Olympic cycle. Vishvajit More, who leads the Greco-Roman team, won a bronze medal at 55kg at the 2025 edition, so he brings some experience of the podium.
India's team at a glance
| Style | Dates | Status before start |
|---|---|---|
| Greco-Roman | October 12 to 14 | Line-up in doubt over visas; led by Vishvajit More (55kg) |
| Women's wrestling | October 14 to 16 | Line-up in doubt over visas; Sweety (53kg) named |
| Men's freestyle | October 16 to 18 | Full ten-member squad cleared; Rohit (57kg) leads |
Impact
Short-term: Indian fans will know within the first three days how many Greco-Roman wrestlers made it to Las Vegas, since that style is contested first. Any empty weight class means lost points in the team standings and a lost chance at a world medal for the athlete concerned.
Long-term: The episode may push federations and sports bodies to plan visa applications earlier for young athletes and to carry stronger supporting documents, such as federation letters and proof of funding, for those without jobs. The fresh-squad policy, if it holds, should give more Indian wrestlers world-level experience before the senior trials for the next Olympic cycle.
Who is affected: Young Indian wrestlers aged 18 to 23, especially those in Greco-Roman and women's wrestling still waiting on visas; their coaches and training centres; the Wrestling Federation of India; and fans following India's next generation of wrestlers.
Key Takeaway
India sends an all-new young wrestling squad to the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas from October 12, but visa refusals may leave gaps in its Greco-Roman and women's teams.
Questions and Answers
When and where are the 2026 U23 World Wrestling Championships?
They are being held in Las Vegas, United States, from October 12 to 18, 2026. Greco-Roman runs first (October 12 to 14), then women's wrestling (October 14 to 16) and men's freestyle (October 16 to 18).
Why were some Indian wrestlers refused US visas?
According to the Wrestling Federation of India, nine of the 16 wrestlers interviewed at the US Embassy in New Delhi on October 7 were told they were refused because they were under 20 and not formally employed. The federation asked the embassy to reconsider, saying athletes of this age are usually still building their careers.
Which part of India's team is confirmed?
The ten-member men's freestyle squad, led by Rohit at 57kg, has been cleared to travel. The final line-ups for the Greco-Roman and women's events were still uncertain on the eve of the championships.
How did India do at the last U23 World Championships?
At the 2025 edition in Novi Sad, Serbia, India won nine medals: one gold, two silver and six bronze. Sujeet Kalkal won gold in men's freestyle and the women's team won India's first team title at this level.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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