Trial in Lucknow for women's wrestlers from Monday

Babita Kumari

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS)

The selection committee of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will meet at Sports Authority of India (SAI) training Centre in Lucknow on Monday to witness selection trials for the women's team who will represent the country in the Senior World Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas from September 7 to 12.

The selection committee will select an eight-member team during the trials beginning on Monday. The Senior World Wrestling Championship will be the first chance for Indians to book their berth for Rio Olympic Games 2016.

All top women wrestlers, including Olympian Geeta Phogat, Commonwealth Games medallists Vinesh and Lalita will compete for their selection in the Indian team for the World Championship.

Babita Kumari, the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, will not participate in the trials due to injury. She has requested the committee to consider her past performance due to her inability to attend the trails.

“All top women wrestlers, including Olympian Geeta Phogat, Commonwealth Games medallists Vinesh and Lalita will compete for their selection in the Indian team for the World Championship,” said a WFI release on Saturday.

“However, Commonwealth Games medallist Babita Kumari will not participate in the trials due to injury.”

The selection committee has decided the finalist of Babita's weight category (freestyle 55kg) will only be selected for a competition in Kazakhstan which will be held before World Championship from July 24 to 27.

“But the finalist will give trial with Babita to book berth for the World Championship and date of that trial will be intimated later,” WFI said.