India’s next generation of women wrestlers has been given its international assignment, with the Wrestling Federation of India finalising a 10-member squad for the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. The selection trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium produced a mix of emerging talent and proven age-group performers, with 19-year-old Neha Sangwan emerging as one of the biggest names after winning the 62kg category.
Sangwan, a former U17 World Champion, will spearhead the Indian women’s challenge when the U23 World Championships take place in Las Vegas from October 12 to 18. The tournament is being organised by United World Wrestling and will bring together the leading young wrestlers from around the world. The New Delhi trials featured competition across all 10 women’s weight categories, with wrestlers from traditional wrestling centres such as Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh battling for national selection.
The competition was particularly significant because the WFI has decided to maintain separate squads for the U23 and Senior World Championships. Wrestlers who secured qualification through the U23 trials will therefore not be eligible to participate in next month’s senior selection trials, giving the younger contingent a clear opportunity to prepare specifically for the Las Vegas assignment. Among the most notable selections is Mansi Lather in the 68kg category. Lather has already established herself on the international circuit despite her young age and brings significant experience into the U23 squad.
United World Wrestling records show that Lather won the 68kg title at the 2026 U23 Asian Championships in Vietnam, going through the competition with four victories. She also reached the final of the 2026 U20 World Championships, eventually finishing with a silver medal. Her international record gives India a strong medal prospect in Las Vegas. Lather has also previously enjoyed success at senior level, winning bronze at the 2025 Senior Asian Championships in Amman in the 68kg category.
The U23 squad therefore carries more than youthful promise. It contains wrestlers who have already experienced the pressure of major international competitions and will now be expected to make the transition into a higher level of competition.
WFI President Sanjay Singh said, “The level of wrestling witnessed today at the IG Stadium demonstrates the incredible depth and strength of Indian women’s wrestling. Every bout was closely contested, proving how hard these athletes have been training. I congratulate all the winners and every wrestler who stepped onto the mat today. We are confident that this strong contingent will perform exceptionally well and bring glory to the country at the U23 World Championships in the USA,” he added.
The selection process also ensures that the runners-up will remain part of the national setup. While the winners will earn the right to represent India at the World Championships, the second-placed wrestlers will join the national camp and provide strong sparring competition during preparations.
That could prove particularly valuable given the intensity of the international calendar. India will now have to build a focused preparation programme for the U23 championships, with the selected wrestlers expected to assemble for a national camp before travelling to the United States.
The final Indian women’s squad is:
50kg: Parveen (HAR)
53kg: Sweety (HAR)
55kg: Ahilya Shinde (MAH)
57kg: Neha Sharma (DEL)
59kg: Komal (HAR)
62kg: Neha Sangwan (HAR)
65kg: Vaishnavi Patil (MAH)
68kg: Mansi Lather (MAH)
72kg: Amruta Pujari (MAH)
76kg: Diksha Malik (HAR)
The trials were conducted against the backdrop of a depleted field in some categories, with several senior wrestlers preparing for the upcoming senior World Championships selection process. Yet that could ultimately work in India’s favour by giving a new group of wrestlers the opportunity to experience the demands of international competition.
The bigger challenge now begins in Las Vegas. The selection trials have identified India’s representatives, but the U23 World Championships will determine whether this promising group can convert domestic success into medals on the world stage. With Sangwan leading the charge and Lather bringing recent international pedigree, India will head to the United States with a squad that combines emerging talent with increasingly valuable experience.
