The 2024 Senior National Wrestling Championship is set to take place in Bengaluru from December 6th to 8th, marking a significant milestone as it will be hosted in Karnataka for the first time. This prestigious event will bring together India’s top wrestling talent, with Olympic bronze medalist Aman Sehrawat, U-20 World Champion Antim Panghal, and other prominent wrestlers vying for national supremacy across three disciplines: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women’s Wrestling.
The competition will unfold at the renowned Koramangala Indoor Stadium, a venue that promises to offer an exciting atmosphere for the athletes and fans alike. The championship is poised to revive the legacy of wrestling in Karnataka, a state with a rich history in the sport, including a long-standing tradition of enthusiastic crowds for local and traditional wrestling bouts. The event aims to reignite interest in wrestling and inspire a new generation of wrestlers, positioning Karnataka as a growing hub for sporting excellence.
Organized under the guidance of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the event is expected to feature over 1,000 participants, including wrestlers, coaches, and officials, hailing from 25 state member units across the country. Additional participants from the Railway Sports Promotion Board and Services Sports Promotion Board will also join the competition.
Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh expressed his excitement for the event, saying, “We are proud to bring the Senior National Wrestling Championship to Karnataka for the first time. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the skills of our top wrestlers and continue developing the sport across the country.”
Bellippady Gunaranjan Shetty, President of the Karnataka Wrestling Association and Joint Secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India, shared his enthusiasm as well. “It’s a great honor for Karnataka to host this prestigious event. The championship not only highlights the skill and dedication of wrestlers from across India but also showcases Karnataka’s growing prominence in sports and athletic excellence,” he said.
The competition will feature various weight categories across all disciplines, including Freestyle (57 kg to 125 kg), Greco-Roman (55 kg to 130 kg), and Women’s Wrestling (50 kg to 76 kg). Each state unit can send up to ten wrestlers and three coaches per discipline, with the final list of participants due to be submitted by November 25th.
The championship will be held according to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, with matches conducted on three approved mats. To ensure maximum access to fans, all matches will be live-streamed on the Karnataka Wrestling Association's social media platforms, allowing wrestling enthusiasts across the nation to watch the action unfold.
This event is expected to be a landmark occasion for Indian wrestling, further cementing Karnataka’s place in the national sporting landscape.
