The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has issued a circular to wrestlers selected for the 2026 Under-23 Asian Wrestling Championships, stating that anyone withdrawing from the tournament will not be allowed to compete in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.
The U23 Asian Championships are scheduled to take place in Da Nang, Vietnam from May 22 to 26, while the Asian Games trials are set to begin just days later on May 30 and 31.
In a circular released on May 7, the federation said the Indian squads had already been finalised and all required formalities, including registration with United World Wrestling (UWW), visa processing and related documentation, had been completed. As a result, the WFI stated that replacements at this stage would not be possible.
The federation added that wrestlers opting out of the continental event would not be eligible to participate in the Asian Games selection trials.
While the two competitions do not technically overlap, the short gap between them has raised concerns within the wrestling community.
Wrestlers competing in Vietnam are expected to finish the tournament on May 26 before immediately beginning travel back to India. Within a span of a few days, they would then need to recover physically and prepare again for domestic trials that could determine qualification for the Asian Games.
The situation is particularly difficult for athletes competing in different weight categories. Wrestlers usually undergo strict weight management before tournaments, and the possibility of needing to cut weight twice within a week could place additional strain on their bodies.
The scheduling also leaves very little room for recovery after an international competition, especially for athletes who may compete deep into the tournament in Vietnam.
According to the WFI’s announced schedule, the women’s trials for the Asian Games will be held in New Delhi on May 30, while the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman trials are slated for May 31 in Lucknow.
The issue has become a talking point because some wrestlers were reportedly considering skipping the U23 Asian Championships to focus entirely on the Asian Games trials, which carry greater long-term significance in the international calendar.
However, with the federation making participation effectively compulsory for selected wrestlers, athletes are now left balancing international representation with the challenge of managing recovery, travel and preparation in an unusually tight window.
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