Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: The three-day Wushu selection trials for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, set to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, began today at the Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex (SKISC), Srinagar.
The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, who praised the Wushu Association of India (WAI) for its strategic preparation and medal-focused approach. She emphasizing Jammu & Kashmir’s potential as a martial arts training and advocated for the establishment of a High-Performance Centre for Wushu in the region to further develop talent and promote sports tourism.
Around 200 athletes from across India are participating in the Sanda (combat) category, while the Taolu (routine) trials are scheduled for August 25–27 in Imphal. According to WAI’s selection policy, 8 athletes (5 men + 2 women) across 7 weight categories will be shortlisted. Final squad selection will be based on performances in ranking tournaments, national camps, and international exposure events, culminating in June 2026.
Dignitaries present at the inauguration included Nuzhat Gul, Vijay Saraf, Suhel Ahmed and Kuldeep Handoo. The weigh-in and draw of lots were completed earlier today, with bouts scheduled over the next two days. The Selection Committee includes Kuldeep Handoo, Sopan Shankar Katke, Sandeep Goswami, Amit Goswami and other WAI officials.
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