CHANDIGARH: The Wrestling Federation of India has selected 18 grapplers, including seven women, for participation in the World Wrestling Championship to be held in Guanghou (China) from September 25 to 28.

The wrestlers were chosen during  selection trials held at Hisar and Patiala, Announcing the squad, WFI president Dr Mahinder Singh Malik said that the selected wrestlers would be subjected to dope test before departure of the Indian team for Guanghou (China).

Dr Malik, who is also Director General of Police, Haryana, said that this time the WFI selectors had decided to field wrestlers in lower weight categories only in Greco-Roman style. The selectors were of the opinion that the Indians in this class had not given the desired results in the recent international competitons.

Greco-Roman style wrestlers Mukesh Khatri (Delhi, 55 kg), Gurwinder (Punjab, 66 kg), Jabal (Delhi, 60 kg) and Rajbir (Haryana, 74 kg) were included in the Indian team. Olympian Palwinder Singh Cheema, Arjuna awardees Sushil Kumar and Surjit Mann are among seven freestyle wrestlers selected for the World Championship.

Sudesh Kumar (Government nomiee), Dronacharya Sukhchain Singh Cheema, chief coach Jagminder, Safri Lal, Darshan Singh and three local wrestlers. Foreign coach Vladimir was also among the selectors. The squad: Men: Freestyle: 55 kg: Vinod (Delhi), 60 kg: Yogeshwawr Dutt (Haryana); 66 kg: Sushil Kumar (Delhi); 75 kg: Somvir (Ch BSMSS, Nidani, Haryana), 84 kg: Sujit Mann (Haryana); 96 kg: Rohit Patel (MP); 120 kg: Palwinder Singh Cheema.

Greco-Roman: 55 kg: Mukesh Khatri (Delhi); 66 kg: Gurwinder Singh (Punjab); 60 kg: Jabal (Delhi) and 74 kg:Rajbir (Haryana). Women (freestyle): 48 kg: Sumel (Delhi); 51 kg: Neha Rathi (Haryana); 55 kg: Geeta (Haryana);  59 kg: Alka Tomar (UP); 63 kg: Suman Kundu (Haryana); 67kg: Jyoti, and 72 kg: Sonika Kaliraman
(Haryana).