CWG, Asiad limit weight categories to six in wrestling

NEW DELHI : In a setback to the Indian wrestlers, the organisers of the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games next year have decided to limit the weight categories to six in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Going a step ahead, the organisers of the Gold Coast CWG in Australia have shelved the Greco-roman discipline altogether, limiting the competition to only the men’s and women’s freestyle division. At the Gold Coast CWG and the Jakarta Asian Games, the competitions would be held in the same weight categories, which were on show at the Rio Olympics. The men’s freestyle category will have 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg, while the women’s event will involve 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg. At the Jakarta Asian Games, where the Greco-roman discipline has been retained, the weight categories include 59kg, 66kg, 75kg, 85kg, 98kg and 130kg. The Glasgow CWG in 2014 had seven men’s freestyle weight categories — 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. At the Incheon Asian Games, there were eight weight categories —57kg, 51kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg. But, for the forthcoming CWG, 61kg category has been dropped from the men’s competition. The Asian Games, too, would see the exclusion of 61kg and 70kg categories. Similarly, in the women’s competition, the 2018 CWG and the Asian Games would see the removal of 55kg category from both the multi-sport events. The Incheon Asian Games had just four women’s weight categories, but this time, the organisers have included 53kg, 58kg and 69kg. The decision by the organisers had been taken in consultation with the United World Wrestling, the sport’s world governing body.