Lashgari Ehsan to lead Iran’s team in Asian Wrestling champioship

New Delhi, May 9, IRNA – Defending champion Iranian Wrestler Lashgari Ehsan will lead the 40 member Iranian team in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship to be held from 12th to 16th May at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.

Top wrestlers from 21 countries including Islamic Republic of Iran have confirmed participation in the test event for the wrestling competition of Commonwealth Games 2010.

A total of 257 wrestlers from countries, including China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Kazakhastan, Pakistan, Singapore and Uzbekistan will take part in the event.

Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar will lead the Indian charge while the other star attractions of the five-day event are Beijing Olympics silver medallist Yusup Abdusalomov of Tajikistan, Bronze medallist of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Mutalimov Marid of Kazakhstan and Silver Medalist in 2009 Senior World Wrestling Championship in Female Wrestling, Ms Orchirbat Burmaa of Mongolia.

The tournament will be held under three categories – Greco Roman, Free Style and Female.

"This is a big tournament. We are leaving no stone unturned to make it successful. I hope that the Indians will put up good performance in the event. We are participating in all the categories," Mander said at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

"Wrestling is very strong in Asia and a very high level of competition is expected. Commonwealth Games are coming and then the Asian Games are the other big targets ahead of us," Mander added.
Wrestling world body FILA President Raphael Martinetti along with a large number of FILA officials will supervise the event, organisers said.

Meanwhile, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President G S Mander exuded confidence that Indian wrestlers will shine in the event./end