India's wrestlers will resume their quest for an Olympic quota over the next three days at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
This is the penultimate chance for India's wrestlers to qualify for the Olympic Games, with the World Qualifiers in May being the final opportunity.
From Vinesh Phogat's return to international action to former U-23 World champion Aman Sehrawat's bid for a maiden Olympic quota, here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Asian Olympic Qualifiers.
What's at stake?
A berth at the Olympics, of course. There will be no medals awarded at the Asian Olympic Games Qualifiers, but only quotas. The finalists in each weight category will win a quota for the Paris Olympics.
So...win a quota and go to Paris?
If only it were that simple in Indian wrestling. Sanjay Singh, the elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India [WFI], had recently said that the federation will follow its selection guidelines to decide whether the wrestler who wins the quota is best suited for the Games, or if a final selection trial needs to be held to identify the best wrestler in each category.
What does the selection guideline say?
The current selection guidelines available on the WFI's website say "...the Selection Committee of WFI will have the discretion to hold a trial for participation in the Olympic Games. However, it will not be compulsory that all the quota earned Wrestlers will be asked to appear in trials. And if the trials are held, the quota winner will not appear in the initial trials in that particular category, rather he/she will compete with the winner of those trials. And if the quota-winner loses the bout to the trials' winner, he/she will be given one more opportunity to keep the quota through a second bout against the same opponent."
Two key points here: the WFI has the authority to decide whether a trial is needed or not. Secondly, they also have the power to decide who appears in these trials, if one is held.
Who are the big names going?
India will have 17 wrestlers in 18 categories, with no representation in the women's 53kg since Antim Panghal has already won a quota. India's squad has big names in two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat [50kg], former Worlds silver medallist Deepak Punia [86kg], former world U-23 champ Aman Sehrawat [57kg] and former Asian champion and Worlds silver medallist Anshu Malik [57kg].
Why is Vinesh in a different weight category?
Vinesh is competing in the 50kg category because Antim has already won a quota in the 53kg category. Unsure of whether the WFI would conduct a final trial, Vinesh competed in March's selection trials in two weight categories [50kg and 53kg] and won in the 50kg division, hence she's here.
Point to note: Vinesh isn't new to the 50kg category: both her gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games were in this weight category.
What does Vinesh have to do to win an Olympic quota?
Win three bouts. She first takes on Cheon Miran of South Korea, a bronze medallist at the 2023 Senior Asian Championships. This should be a relatively easy match-up for Vinesh and a win here would pit her against Cambodia's Dit Samnang in the quarterfinal. Samnang lost to India's Shivanee Pawar in the opening round of the Asian Championships last week, so Vinesh will fancy her chances.
Up next will be the all-important semifinal, where she could face either Jiah Pingot or the winner of the Laura Ganikyzy vs Vatansulton Shakarshoeva clash.
Jiah has a silver medal at the 2023 SEA Games, while Laura is a former U23 Asian Championships bronze medallist. Meanwhile, Vatansulton has not competed in a 50kg bout this year. Given Vinesh's pedigree, all three opponents are beatable and she should be able to pick up the Olympic quota on offer.
What is the schedule?
It's a straightforward, three-day affair.
April 19: Men's freestyle.
April 20: Women's freestyle.
April 21: Greco-Roman.
What is India's full squad for the Asian Olympic Games Wrestling Qualifiers?
Men's freestyle: Aman Sehrawat (57kg), Sujeet (65kg), Jaideep (74kg), Deepak Punia (86kg), Deepak (97kg) and Sumit (125kg).
Women's freestyle: Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg) and Reetika (76kg).
Greco-Roman: Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg) and Naveen (130kg).