India begins favourite

With less than a year to go for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth wrestling championship, starting at the P.A.P. Indoor Stadium here from Friday, is expected to give a picture of how India is going to fare in the mega event in Delhi.

However, the picture may not be a perfect one as India, fielding 42 wrestlers, is considered the clear favourite. Canada, expected to throw a strong challenge, has sent a second-string 12-member squad, while Nigeria, another respected country in Commonwealth circles, has suddenly pulled out of the competition.

Asked whether his country not sending a strong team was part of any strategy, Canadian official Ron Moncur said, “No, I do not think so. There were financial constraints. Besides, this is the year-end. So, we came with the available wrestlers.”

He admitted that the current squad was a younger one. Its lone star in the meet is current World championship bronze winner Justine Bouchard.

On Nigeria’s last-minute pull-out, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President, G.S. Mander, said his federation tried its best to help the African side take part in the meet.

“There had been no response from Nigeria for the last two days. When we got through to them today, they said it was too late for them to get visas,” Mr. Mander told The Hindu on Thursday. According to WFI, wrestlers from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Singapore, Pakistan and Cameroon will also be seen in action. Altogether 137 wrestlers, including 37 women, will be part of the three-day event featuring Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s competitions.

India, represented by two teams, has selected its best available grapplers. While Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar (66kg) will be the centre of attraction, Rajneesh Kumar, Rahul Mann (60 kg), Narsingh Yadav (74 kg), Anuj Kumar, Ramvir (84 kg), Anil Mann, Mausam Khatri (96 kg) and Rajeev Tomar (120 kg) are expected to bolster the country’s medals tally in freestyle.

Sunil Rana (66 kg), Sanjay Singh, Rajbir Singh Chikara (74 kg), Anil Kumar (96 kg), Dharmender Dalal and Rishpal (120 kg) are the home grapplers to watch out for in the Greco-Roman category.

India’s women’s squad also looks formidable. Nirmala Devi, Neha Rathi (48 kg), Babita Kumari (51 kg), Geeta (55 kg), Alka Tomar (59 kg), Anita (63 kg), Suman Kundu (67 kg) and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 kg) give the host a good chance of keeping its flag flying high.