World Championships and Asian Games silver medallist Deepak Punia has progressed to the final of the 92kg freestyle weight category at the Senior Open Ranking Tournament 2026 in Nandininagar, Gonda. The tournament, organized by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), includes 593 wrestlers competing across 10 weight categories to establish their national rankings.
In the 92kg freestyle weight division, Haryana’s Deepak Punia secured a spot in the tournament finals after delivering a series of technically sound performances. Punia defeated Raja from Haryana with a score of 11-1 in a 02:53 semifinal match and is set to face Vansh, also from Haryana, in the final showdown.
In the 125kg heavyweight category, a closely fought battle took place between Haryana’s Rohit and Anirudh. Despite Anirudh’s strong defensive display, Rohit managed to clinch the crucial match points, securing victory and progressing to the next round, leading to Anirudh’s elimination from the competition.
Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), expressed satisfaction with the widespread participation in the event, stating that the tournament offers a valuable platform for wrestlers nationwide to compete and earn rankings. Singh emphasized the importance of such competitions in enhancing Indian wrestling both domestically and internationally.
The tournament will proceed with the remaining knockout and medal matches, with the WFI set to release updates on final standings and technical outcomes as the event concludes.
