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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — The wrestling federation of India has provided its lineup for the 2018 Men’s Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at The Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa April 7-8.
The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and will feature the top eight men’s freestyle wrestling teams in the world.
The team is led by 2013 World silver medalist Amit Kumar at 57 kg, who was also a 2012 Olympian. Kumar has been on two India Senior World Teams.
Competing at 61 kg is 2016 Olympian Sandeep Tomar, who was also a 2014 World Military champion. Tomar boast Commonwealth Championships gold medals from 2013 and 2016.
Two other past Senior World Team members on the India roster are Arun Kumar at 70 kg and Pawan Kumar at 86 kg, both who have competed in two Senior World Championships. Pawan Kumar has won a pair of Commonwealth Championships gold medals in 2011 and 2013.
The entry at 65 kg, Sharvan, had a successful 2017 season, winning gold medals at both the Asian Championships and also the Commonwealth Championships.
2016 Cadet World champion Deepak Punia will compete at 92 kg. Punia was fifth at the 2017 Junior World Championships and also competed in the 2017 U23 World Championships.
Vinod Kumar Omprakash, the 74 kg World Cup team member, won a silver medal at the 2017 U23 World Championships for India.
Ticket opportunities for the World Cup include standard all-session tickets ($75/$50), single-day tickets ($40/$25), and a “The Eastern Iowa Airport Family Four Pack” ($100). Tickets are now available on the University of Iowa Athletics website hawkeyesports.com.
Visit worldcupiowacity.com for more information on the event.
India Freestyle World Cup Team Roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Amit Kumar
61 kg/134 lbs. – Sandeep Tomar
65 kg/143 lbs. – Sharvan
70 kg/154 lbs. – Arun Kumar
74 kg/163 lbs. – Vinod Kumar Omprakash
79 kg/174 lbs. – Sachin Giri
86 kg/189 lbs. – Pawan Kumar
92 kg/ 203 lbs. – Deepak Punia
97 kg/213 lbs. – Viky
125 kg/275 lbs. – Pushpender Singh
India World Cup bios
57 kg/126 lbs. – Amit Kumar
Second at 2013 World Championships… 2012 Olympian… Two-time India World Team member… 2013 Asian champion…Fourth at 2015 President Cup (Kazakhstan)… Tenth at 2014 Asian Games… Second at 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial… 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament champion… Third at 2012 Asian Championships… 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion… 2011 Junior Asian champion… Born December 15, 1993… Age: 24
61 kg/134 lbs. – Sandeep Tomar
2016 Olympian… Seventh at 2017 World Championships…2014 World Military champion… Fifth at 2018 Takhti Cup (Iran)… Third at 2017 Asian Indoor Games…Tenth at 2017 Asian Championships… Tenth at 2017 Dan Kolov Tournament (Bulgaria)… Third at 2016 Golden Grand Prix…2013 and 2016 Commonwealth champion… Second at 2015 Grand Prix of Spain… Third at 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournament… 2016 Asian champion… Third at 2015 Takhti Cup (Iran)… Third at 2013 and 2014 Dave Schultz Memorial International… 2012 Copa Brasil champion (Brazil)… Born February 4, 1991… Age: 27
65 kg/143 lbs. – Sharvan
Fifth at 2018 Asian Championships… 2017 Commonwealth champion… 2017 Asian champion… Fifth at 2017 Dan Kolov Tournament (Bulgaria)… Seventh at 2016 Junior World Championships… Ninth at 2014 Cadet World Championships… Born September 7, 1991.. Age: 26
70 kg/154 lbs. – Arun Kumar
Second in 2017 Commonwealth Championships… Third in 2013 and 2016 Commonwealth Championships… Two-time Senior World Team member… Fourth in 2015 President’s Cup (Kazakhstan)… 2011 Junior Asian champion… Ninth in 2009 Asian Junior Championships… Born July 6, 1991.. Age: 26
74 kg/163 lbs. – Vinod Kumar Omprakash
Second at 2017 U23 World Championships… Third at 2018 Aisan Championships… Eighth at 2017 Asian Championships… Fifth at 2016 Golden Grand Prix… Fifth at 2016 Dmitri Korkin Tournament (Russia)… Born January 1, 1994… Age: 24
79 kg/174 lbs. – Sachin Giri
Eighth in 2015 Cadet World Championships… Third in 2015 Asian Cadet Championships… Born July 9, 1998… Age: 19
86 kg/189 lbs. – Pawan Kumar
Two-time India World Team member… Ninth at 2014 Asian Games… Third at 2014 Commonwealth Games… Ninth at 2014 Asian Championships… 2011 and 2013 Commonwealth champion… Seventh at 2013 Junior Asian Championships… Third at 2012 Hari Ram Grand Prix (India)… Tenth at 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament… Eighth at 2012 Asian Championships… Third at 2011 Junior Asian Championships… Born October 16, 1993… Age: 24
92 kg/ 203 lbs. – Deepak Punia
Fifth at 2017 Junior World Championships… 2017 U23 World Team member… Second at 2017 Junior Asian Championships… Fifth at 2016 Pune Mayor’s Cup (India)… 2016 Cadet World champion… Second in 2016 Cadet Asian Championships… 2016 Asian Junior champion… Born: May 19, 1999… Age: 18
97 kg/213 lbs. – Viky
Eighth at 2017 U23 World Championships… Third at 2016 Cadet World Championships… Third at 2016 Asian Championships… Born August 3, 1999… Age: 18
125 kg/275 lbs. – Pushpender Singh
Third at 2017 Asian Championships… 2017 U23 World Team member…. Born November 11, 1998.. Age: 19
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