Haryana dominates 2024 Senior National Wrestling Championship

Haryana continued its dominance in Indian wrestling, topping both the men's and women's team rankings at the 2024 Senior National Wrestling Championship in Bengaluru today. The event took place at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, where Haryana's women’s team clinched eight out of the 10 gold medals on offer, while the men’s team secured four golds across all weight categories.

In the women's competition, Haryana emerged as the top team with 235 points, followed by Maharashtra with 150 points and Delhi with 106 points. The standout performers for Haryana included Jyoti (53kg), Meenakshi (55kg), Tapasya (57kg), Anjali (59kg), Manisha (65kg), Radhika (68kg), Priyanka (72kg)  and Priya (76kg), all of whom won gold. These wrestlers are now set to be part of India’s talent pool for next year.

One of the highlights of the day was the women's 76kg final, where world medallist Priya faced off against 2024 Paris Olympian Reetika. Priya, hailing from Jind, dominated the bout with a 10-0 victory, showcasing her superior technique and strategy.

Another notable performer was Radhika, the 23-year-old Asian Championships silver medallist, who did not concede a single point throughout the tournament. She triumphed in the final, defeating Shrishti from Delhi to claim gold in the 68kg category. Radhika, who had a below-par performance at the 2023 Asian Games, is now focused on winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games. "I had fallen ill just before the tournament last year. This time, my aim is to win the gold," she said.

In the men's freestyle competition, Haryana's wrestlers continued to shine. Siddharth (65kg), Anuj Kumar (70kg), Amit (79kg) and Hisar’s Sachin (92kg) all won gold. Haryana finished first in the freestyle team rankings with 190 points, narrowly ahead of the Services Selection Board (179 points) and Delhi (143 points).

In the Greco-Roman category, Aman (82kg) and Sunil Kumar (87kg) added to Haryana's success with gold medals. Punjab's Sahil (97kg) was the lone wrestler from his state to claim a gold in freestyle.

Overall, Haryana's dominant performance further solidified its status as the powerhouse of Indian wrestling, both in the men’s and women’s categories.