Nagpur to Host Inaugural Chief Minister’s U‑15 National Wrestling Championship from June 20–22.

Sports

Nagpur’s indoor stadium at the Mankapur Divisional Sports Complex will host India’s first-ever U‑15 National Wrestling Championship, titled the Chief Minister’s Cup, from June 20–22, 2025. Around 1,200 young wrestlers from 25 states will compete in freestyle and Greco-Roman categories.


      - Organised by the Nagpur District Wrestling Association and Maharashtra Wrestling Association under the Wrestling Federation of India, the three-day event marks its debut in Nagpur. The venue is the Mankapur indoor stadium—chosen for its capacity and infrastructure suited to national-level competitions.

      - Approximately 1,200 U‑15 wrestlers from 25 state associations have registered. Maharashtra's state trials on June 17–18 in Pune selected its squad. Jharkhand and Nagaland teams have also completed their selection trials ahead of competing in Nagpur.

      - The championship includes both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling with boys competing in 38–85 kg weight classes and girls in 33–66 kg. The format will be knockout, with bouts spread over morning and afternoon sessions.

Main Point :-   (i) The event opens on June 20, and the formal inauguration is scheduled for June 21, graced by key dignitaries: WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh; Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis; Deputy CM Ajit Pawar; Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne; and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The valedictory ceremony will follow on June 22 evening.

      (ii) Top performers across weight divisions will earn selection to India's U‑15 national team to participate in the Asian U‑15 Wrestling Championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, scheduled from July 5–13.

(iii) This edition introduces cash prizes at a national level for the first time, reinforcing the prestige of the event. It also marks a milestone for Nagpur—boosting regional sport infrastructure and encouraging grassroots engagement.

          ____________________________