OTTAWA— Coming off a strong showing at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is pleased to announce the 20 athletes that will represent Canada at the 2022 World Championships, September 10-18 in Belgrade, Serbia.

The team will see all 12 of the Commonwealth Games team members, who qualified at the 2022 Canadian Wrestling Trials (May 26-29 in Edmonton), compete along with eight wrestlers who punched their ticket at the Non-Olympic Weight Class Trials (June 30 in Summerside, P.E.I.).

“WCL is excited to see this talented group of wrestlers compete at the upcoming 2022 Senior World Championships,” said Tamara Medwidsky, WCL Executive Director. “With the success that many have already had this year, these athletes have shown they are some of the best within the Americas and the Commonwealth. Now is their opportunity to shine on the world stage.”

It has already been a successful year for members of the senior team. Canada won 12 out of a possible 12 medals at the Commonwealth Games. In addition, members of the Senior World Team also contributed to Canada’s 11-medal performance at the 2022 Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships this past May in Acapulco, Mexico.

On the men’s side, no competitor comes into the Worlds with more momentum than Surrey, B.C.’s Amar Dhesi. Dhesi first captured gold at the Pan-Am Championships and then following it up with another gold at the Commonwealth Games. The Tokyo Olympian will be looking to cap off the year with another gold at the World Championships.

“I just want to carry this momentum forward and have the same mentality as I did here (at the Commonwealth Games) and Pan-Ams,” said Dhesi after his win at the Commonwealth Games. “I want to go into the Worlds care-free. I’ll wrestle as hard as I can and whatever the outcome is, it is.”

Joining Dhesi on the men’s side is another Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Abbotsford, B.C.’s Nishan Randhawa. Randhawa had a brilliant performance at the Commonwealth Games that included tough wins over wrestlers from India and Pakistan.

The women’s team also features a Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Burnaby, B.C.’s Justina Di Stasio. Di Stasio has already been World Champion, accomplishing the feat in 2018 at 72kg. In 2022, she will look to do it at 76kg.

Another former women’s world champion to compete for Canada in 2022 will be Coquitlam, B.C.’s Ana Godinez Gonzalez. Godinez Gonzalez captured gold at the U23 World Championship last year and followed it up with a gold this year at the Pan-Am Championships. She added a silver at the Commonwealth Games and now will hope to add a senior world medal to her collection.

“Performing at the senior worlds is my goal,” said Godinez Gonzalez after capturing silver at the Commonwealth Games. “I will go back to my matches from this year, fix my mistakes and work on what I am good at and expand on that as well. Obviously, competitors are starting to get to know me and what I like but I always change it up.”

2022 Senior World Championship Team

Joining the athletes are the coaching and support staff. Coaches for the 2022 World Championships include: Dave McKay, Dave Collie, David Zilberman, Dave Spinney, Raj Virdi, Tony Ramos, Logan Stieber, Richard DesChateletes and Robert Moore. The medicals/therapists will be Surinder Budwal and Rick Tkach. Chris Woodcroft and Kale Whitton will act as team leads. Ed Zinger will also represent Canada as an official.

For complete tournament information, visit the tournament website at: https://uww.org/event/world-championships-61.