Individual Wrestling World Cup: Indian squad, schedule, timings, when and where to watch

International wrestling is all set to make a comeback for the first time after the coronavirus pandemic struck, with the Individual Wrestling World Cup all set to start tomorrow at Belgrade, Serbia.

The Individual Wrestling World Cup is being held after the Wrestling World Championships had to be scrapped because of the non-participation of several top nations due to the pandemic. The Individual World Cup will take place in the Serbian capital from 12th December to 18th December 2020.

The wait is almost over!

It's been 270 days since we last hosted an international competition. That all changes December 12-18, when #WrestleBelgrade, Serbia 🇷🇸, welcomes over 500 wrestlers from 51 different countries for the Individual World Cup. pic.twitter.com/zZJAhY6oLo

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) December 10, 2020

The tournament will see top wrestlers from across the globe fighting it out in all three categories i.e. freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s.

What’s the Indian squad for the World Cup?

With several nations missing out on the World Cup, this tournament provides the Indians with an excellent opportunity to test their youngsters against well-established international starts.

Keeping this in mind, the Indians have sent a young squad to the World Cup including the Olympics bound Deepak Punia and Ravi Kumar, along with the likes of Narsingh Yadav who is returning from a doping ban as well as a bout with coronavirus and Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik. The Indians will also see Sunil Kumar and Hardeep Singh fighting in the Greco-Roman category.

While on the other hand, the experienced wrestlers including the likes of Bajranj Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sushil Kumar will be missing in action for the Indians.

While the World Championships was converted into Individual World Cup which gave the wrestlers a chance to participate despite their national federation not travelling with them, the tournament will see countries like United States of America, Japan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Cuba miss out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

24 Indian wrestlers to take part in individual wrestling World Cup from December 12

Schedule and Timings

Saturday, December 12

3:30 PM IST - 7:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (GR - 55, 67, 72, 77, 87kg)

10:30 PM IST - 12:00 AM IST: Semi-finals (GR - 55, 67, 72, 77, 87kg)

Sunday, December 13

3:30 PM IST - 7:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (GR - 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)

3:30 PM IST - 7:30 PM IST: Repechage (GR - 55, 67, 72, 77, 87kg)

10:30 PM IST - 11:15 PM IST: Semi-finals (GR - 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)

11:30 PM IST - 2:30 AM IST: Finals (GR - 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)

Monday, December 14

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (WW - 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Repechage (GR - 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)

9:30 PM IST - 10:15 PM IST: Semi-finals (WW - 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)

10:30 PM IST - 12:30 AM IST: Finals (GR - 60. 63, 82, 97, 130kg)

Tuesday, December 15

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (WW - 57, 59, 65, 68, 76kg)

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Repechage (WW - 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)

9:15 PM IST - 10:15 PM: Semi-finals (WW - 57, 59, 65, 68, 76kg)

10:30 PM IST - 1:00 AM IST: Finals (WW - 50, 53, 55, 62, 72kg)

Wednesday, December 16

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (FS - 57, 70, 74, 92, 125kg)

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Repechage (WW - 57, 59, 65, 68, 76kg)

9:15 PM IST - 10:15 PM: Semi-finals (FS - 57, 70, 74, 92, 125kg)

10:30 PM IST - 1:30 AM IST: Finals (WW - 57, 59, 65, 68, 76kg)

Thursday, December 17

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Qualification Rounds (FS - 61, 65, 79, 86, 97kg)

3:30 AM IST - 6:30 PM IST: Repechage (FS - 57, 70, 74, 92, 125kg)

9:15 PM IST - 10:15 PM: Semi-finals (FS - 61, 65, 79, 86, 97kg)

10:30 PM IST - 1:30 AM IST: Final (FS - 57, 70, 74, 92, 125kg)

Friday, December 18

8:00 PM IST - 10:00 PM IST: Repechage (FS - 61, 65, 79, 86, 97kg)

10:30 PM IST - 1:30 AM IST: Finals (FS - 61, 65, 79, 86, 97kg)

Where to watch?

The only place to watch the matches in India is wrestlingtv.in, as no television channel will be broadcasting it.