Wrestling Federation of India has lifted suspensions of Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat and junior wrestler Neha Sangwan, who were disqualified for being overweight prior to their bouts at the recent World Championships and U20 World Championships.
Aman, a bronze medalist in men’s freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics, was suspended for one year for failing to make weight before his bout at the Worlds in Zagreb, Croatia. Neha received a two-year suspension for a similar offense at the U20 Worlds in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Aman, 22, stated he missed weight due to a stomachache, expressing embarrassment and clarifying that it was unintentional, arising the night before the weigh-in.
Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh confirmed that the suspension has been lifted due to it being the wrestlers’ first lapse, emphasizing their commitment to avoid future occurrences.
The WFI disciplinary committee convened on November 13, reviewing submissions from the wrestlers. The committee recommended a lenient approach, citing the wrestlers’ strong international performance as a positive factor, as confirmed by Singh following a prior meeting.
Singh indicated that any future violations by the wrestler would result in stricter disciplinary measures. The lifted ban allows Aman and Neha to compete in the upcoming Pro Wrestling League, which is set to resume after six years in January next year.
Aman expressed his confidence in winning gold, citing a previous victory over the current champion but noted that an unfortunate stomach ache hindered his performance. He plans to meet Sanjay Singh to discuss the reconsideration of his situation after the ban.
Aman’s absence from the 57kg category at the World Championships left the Indian men’s freestyle team without any medals, despite being a strong contender prior to the tournament.
