India’s wrestling squad for Asian Games 2026 underwent significant changes in the months before competition began, with doping cases reducing the contingent from its originally announced strength.
## The Original Squad
The Wrestling Federation of India named an 18-member squad following trials held on May 30 and 31, 2026, featuring six wrestlers each across women’s freestyle, men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman categories, including stars Aman Sehrawat, Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal.
## What Changed
Wrestlers Mukul Dahiya, Deepanshu Ahlawat and Deepak were subsequently removed from the squad after failing doping tests, reducing the final contingent to 15 wrestlers competing in Aichi-Nagoya. Reports indicate the federation had to rework the roster three times over as a result of these developments.
## A Separate Case Worth Noting
Aman Sehrawat, the squad’s headline Olympic medallist, was separately ruled out of these Games entirely, not for doping but after being banned for one year over a weight infraction at a world championships event, where he exceeded the limit for his opening bout.
## Why the Numbers Matter
Losing three wrestlers from an 18-member squad to confirmed doping cases represents a significant reduction in India’s medal chances, since every affected weight category means one fewer opportunity for a podium finish at the Games.
## Wrestling’s Competition Window
With wrestling scheduled to run from September 30 through October 3 in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s reduced but still talented 15-member squad has genuine medal contenders once competition begins later in the Games. Our full roundup of India’s medal hopes across every sport covers wrestling’s remaining prospects.
## The Bottom Line
Three separate doping cases within a single sport underline the scale of the challenge Indian wrestling faced heading into these Games, even as the reworked squad still carries real medal ambitions in the later stages of competition.