World wrestling body approves new 79kg & 92kg weight categories

The United World Wrestling has added 79kg and 92kg to the existing Olympic and nonOlympic freestyle weight categories while opting for major changes in almost all the greco-roman weight divisions.

On the sidelines of the World Championships here, the sport’s apex body has released what the 10 weight classes will be in each style moving forward.

The Olympic qualification system was also approved, with the World Championships getting six slots, Continental qualifiers (8) and a World Open (2) accounting for the 16 allotments. Continental championships will also be held.

Freestyle, which will keep all their current Olympic and nonOlympic weight categories and in which India have won four Olympic medals so far, include the following: 57kg 61kg 65kg 74kg 79kg 86kg 92kg 97kg 125kg.

“The new weight categories were the most deliberated issues of the meetings. Last year, United World Wrestling president stated the intention for wrestling to move from 8 to 10 weight categories, prompting speculation on how those new weights would be distributed and if they would affect the six Olympic weight categories,” the UWW said in a release.

“The (UWW) bureau chose an overall moderate approach, looking to impact as few existing weight categories as possible. Freestyle will keep all their current Olympic and non-Olympic weight categories and will simply add 79kg and 92kg.”

Women’s wrestling will increase the lowest weight from 48kg to 50kg and slightly redistribute several weight categories, most by only one or two kilograms. It includes the following: 50kg 53kg 55kg 57kg 59kg 62kg 65kg 68kg 72kg 76kg. –PTI