Indian-origin wrestler to represent Canada in Rio Olympics

An Indian-origin wrestler, who won in Canadian wrestling team trials, was among six wrestlers nominated to represent Canada through the qualification process for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Arjun Gill, 24, won in the 97-kg freestyle category at a three-day top-calibre Freestyle and Greco-Roman competition held in Strathcona county in Alberta province of Canada, earning an opportunity within Olympic weight classes.

Arjun Gill of Canada back flips in celebration after winning the Men's 97kg Gold medal in wrestling at 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 30, 2014 in Glasgow.

An Indian-origin wrestler, who won in Canadian wrestling team trials, was among six wrestlers nominated to represent Canada through the qualification process for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Arjun Gill, 24, won in the 97-kg freestyle category at a three-day top-calibre Freestyle and Greco-Roman competition held in Strathcona county in Alberta province of Canada, earning an opportunity within Olympic weight classes.

Meanwhile, Wrestling Canada Lutte — the national sport governing body for Olympic style wrestling in Canada — said after the trial competition that concluded on Sunday, they will now focus on qualification tournaments.

“With weight class rankings completed, Wrestling Canada Lutte staff can now concentrate on team preparations for the upcoming international qualification events in order to guarantee Canadian entries for the 2016 Olympic Games,” Tamara Medwidsky, the body’s executive director, said.

The international qualifying events will start from March with Pan American Olympic qualifier to be held from March 4-6 in the US.

The first two-day international qualifier event will kick-off on April 22 in Mongolia, while the final international qualifier event would be held between May 6 and 8 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 2016 Olympic Games will be held between August 5 and 21 in which 10,500 athletes from 206 countries will take part to compete in 306 medal events.