Unseeded Vinesh will have it tough at Paris Games

Wrestlers Antim, Aman seeded at Paris Olympics

World Championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal (women's 53kg) and immensely talented Aman Sehrawat (men's freestyle 57kg) have been seeded fourth and sixth in their respective weight categories which should help them avoid tough rivals in the initial bouts of the wrestling competition at the Paris Olympics.

The wrestling events will commence on August 5 and conclude on August 11, the last day of the Games.

This is the first time wrestling events will have seedings at the Olympics.

The seeds were decided on the basis of wrestlers' performances at the 2023 World Championships, 2024 Continental Championships, and Ranking Series events in Zagreb and Budapest.

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who will compete in the women's 50kg weight class, is unseeded at the Games.

The seeding has ensured that Antim won't have to contend with top Japanese contender Akari Fujinami, who is a two-time world champion and the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist from China Qianyu Pang before the medal rounds.

Aman may have to clash with Japan's Rei Higuchi or Armenia's Arsen Harutyunyan before the medal rounds begin. The Indian had lost to Higuchi at the Hungary Ranking Series. Higuchi is a Rio 2016 silver medallist and the 2022 world champion.

Other Indians in the fray are Anshu Malik (women's 57kg), Nisha Dahiya (women's 68kg) and Reetika Hooda (women's 76kg).

Wrestling at the Paris Olympics will witness 18 medal events, six each in men's freestlyle, women's freestyle, and greco-roman wrestling. 16 wrestlers will be competing at each of these events.