Wrestling is one of India’s most successful Olympic sports. Indian wrestlers have won medals at every Olympics from 2008 to 2024, including Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Bajrang Punia and Aman Sehrawat. The rules are set by United World Wrestling (UWW). Here is a guide to freestyle wrestling rules.
Styles
The Olympics have two styles: freestyle and Greco Roman. In freestyle, wrestlers can use their legs and attack the opponent’s legs. In Greco Roman, holds below the waist are not allowed. Women compete in freestyle.
Bout duration
A senior bout has two periods of three minutes each, with a 30 second break.
Scoring points
- Takedown: 2 points, for bringing the opponent down to the mat and controlling them from behind or above. Some high amplitude takedowns score more.
- Exposure (gut wrench or turning the opponent’s back towards the mat): 2 points.
- Step out: 1 point, when the opponent steps out of the protection area.
- High amplitude throws: 4 or 5 points, depending on the throw.
- Passivity: an inactive wrestler can be warned, and the opponent may be given an activity period. If no one scores during it, the active wrestler gets 1 point.
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Ways to win
- Fall (pin): holding both of the opponent’s shoulders on the mat ends the bout immediately.
- Technical superiority: a lead of 10 points in freestyle ends the bout.
- Points: the wrestler with more points at the end wins.
- Injury, disqualification or forfeit of the opponent.
If points are tied, the tie is broken by the higher value moves, fewest cautions and the last point scored, as per UWW rules.
The weigh in rule
Wrestlers must make weight on the morning of competition. Under UWW rules, a second weigh in is also held on the next morning for wrestlers who reach the repechage or final. A wrestler who fails the weigh in is eliminated. This rule became widely known in India after Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50 kg final at Paris 2024 for being slightly over the weight limit.
Repechage
Wrestlers who lose to the eventual finalists get a second chance through repechage, competing for bronze medals. That is why two bronze medals are given in each weight category.
Bottom line
Freestyle wrestling rewards takedowns, exposures and control. A pin or a 10 point lead ends the bout early, while the strict weigh in rule decides who gets to compete at all.
Source / स्रोत: United World Wrestling, Wrestling Federation of India
