A trio of Abbotsford wrestlers are heading to the 2024 U20 Pan-American Championships in Lima, Peru from July 11 to 13.
Local grapplers Jorawar Dhinsa, Tejvir Dhinsa and Rupinder Johal will all be heading to the event.
J. Dhinsa is the lone athlete Canada is sending in the Greco Roman competition and will battle it out in the 130 kilograms division. He was the only Canadian representative for the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers earlier this year where he finished fifth. He also finished fifth at the Senior Pan-Am Championship. In addition, he earned a silver medal at the 2024 U23 Pan-Ams in freestyle. More recently, he captured first in the 125 kg division at the Canadian U23 Championships in May.
T. Dhinsa is competing in the freestyle 97 kg division and last won gold in the U19 110 kg division (freestyle and Greco Roman) at the Canadian Wrestling Championships in Mississauga in April. He also collected a pair of bronze medals at the Canadian U23 Championships in May.
Both Dhinsa's train at Abbotsford's Guru Gobind Singh Wrestling Club.
Johal will be aiming for her second Pan-Am Championships medal. Johal captured gold at the 2022 U17 Pan-Ams at 73 kg. She competes in the 76 kg division this year. She took home bronze at the Canadian U23 Championships in May and gold at the Canadian Wrestling Championships in April. Johal currently competes for Simon Fraser University and trains at Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club.
The 20-person Team Canada roster includes six more wrestlers from B.C.
"Team Canada is sending an experienced group of young international wrestlers to the U20 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Peru," stated Chris Woodcroft, Wrestling Canada Lutte's High Performance Director. "We are pleased to see so many of our talented athletes with previous international experience, which bodes well for this championship. This is an important tournament as a stepping stone to the World Championships later this summer."
