Indian Wrestlers Aman Sehrawat and Neha Get Second Chance as WFI Overturns Bans
In a significant decision, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has revoked the suspensions of two of the country's prominent wrestlers, Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat and U20 World Championships bronze medal winner Neha Sangwan. The federation announced on Friday that both athletes are now immediately eligible to participate in all domestic and international competitions.
The Disciplinary Committee's Lenient View
The decision came after a meeting of the WFI's disciplinary committee on November 13, 2025. The committee carefully examined the cases of both wrestlers, who were originally disqualified for failing to meet weight requirements at their respective world championships.
The committee noted that both Aman Sehrawat and Neha have a history of delivering strong performances on the international stage and have consistently brought laurels to India. Considering their past records and the fact that this was their first such lapse, the committee recommended a lenient approach, giving the athletes another opportunity.
Original Incidents That Led to Suspension
Aman Sehrawat, the 22-year-old two-time junior world champion and former Asian champion, was banned on September 23, 2025 after failing to make weight by 1.7 kilograms ahead of his opening bout in the men's freestyle 57kg category at the senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
This marked a historic moment in Indian sports as it was the first instance where an Olympic medallist had been banned by their home federation for indiscipline.
Neha faced suspension following her disqualification from the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, in August last year, where she returned overweight by 700 grams in the women's 59kg category. This was particularly disappointing given that she had won bronze at the 2024 edition of the championships.
Implications and Future Prospects
The lifting of suspensions has significant implications for both wrestlers' careers. Most immediately, it paves the way for them to enter their names in the auction pool for the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) scheduled for January 2026.
For Aman Sehrawat, the timing is crucial as his original ban period from September 23, 2025 to September 22, 2026 would have overlapped with the Asian Games 2026 in Japan's Aichi-Nagoya (scheduled from September 19 to October 4), potentially causing him to miss the prestigious continental event.
Last month, Aman had formally requested the federation to revoke his ban and consider him for selection for the Asian Games next year and other international competitions.
The WFI's office order emphasized that both wrestlers have assured that such incidents will not be repeated in the future. However, the federation issued a stern warning that any future violation of similar nature shall attract stricter disciplinary action.
Both athletes must now strictly adhere to all weight-management and discipline-related regulations of the WFI as they resume their wrestling careers and aim to bring more glory to Indian sports on the global stage.
