WFI Senior Open Ranking Tournament 2026: Deepak Punia advances to 92kg finals; Rohit progresses in 125kg category
Gonda, May 10
The Wrestling Federation of India commenced the Senior Open Ranking Tournament 2026 on Sunday at Nandininagar, Gonda.
The national-level competition features exactly 593 wrestlers from across the country, competing across 10 weight categories to secure their national rankings, according to a press release.
In the 92kg freestyle weight category, Haryana's Deepak Punia successfully advanced to the tournament finals following a series of technically disciplined performances on the mat.
Punia defeated fellow Haryana wrestler Raja (11-1) in his 02:53 semifinal bout and will now face Haryana's Vansh in the final clash for the title.
In the 125kg heavyweight category, Match No. 179 featured a closely contested bout between Haryana athletes Rohit and Anirudh. Despite a strong defensive effort by Anirudh, Rohit secured the decisive match points to win the bout and advance to the next round, resulting in Anirudh's exit from the tournament.
Speaking on the participation and the framework of the event, Sanjay Singh, President, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), stated, "I am happy to witness so many wrestlers from all across India come here to Nandininagar and compete among the best at the 2026 Open Senior National Ranking Tournaments. This provides a platform to every wrestler in India to compete in their individual weight category, test themselves against the best of India, and secure the best rankings for themselves. Such a bottom-up approach will help strengthen Indian wrestling domestically and internationally."
The tournament will continue with the remaining knockout and medal bouts. The WFI will provide further updates on final standings and technical results as the competition concludes.
— ANI
Reader Comments
593 wrestlers—that's a fantastic number! Shows the depth of talent we have. But I wish the coverage included more details on women's wrestling categories too. The system needs to be truly inclusive from the start.
All Haryana show in 92kg finals—Vansh vs Deepak Punia! 🔥 This is what we need, intense domestic competition to prepare for Olympics. Sanjay Singh's statement about 'bottom-up approach' is good but reforms need to be transparent. Let's see how this evolves.
Watching Raja vs Deepak Punia score—11-1 in just under 3 minutes! That's dominance. But I hope wrestlers from other states also get more exposure and support. The playing field needs to be leveled beyond just Haryana.
As an Indian fan living abroad, this kind of news makes me proud. The wrestling ecosystem in India has come a long way since the days of Sushil Kumar. Deepak Punia is a future Olympic medal hope—hope the federation supports him well! 🤼♂️
593 wrestlers is impressive but I'm concerned about the logistics and welfare of athletes. Are they getting proper accommodation, diet, and medical support? The federation needs to focus on these basics alongside rankings. Still, happy to see wrestling growing in UP beyond the usual centers.
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