South Africa’s top wrestlers will be in action at the national Senior Championships in Pretoria this weekend.

At stake are places in the national squad that will be preparing for the Commonwealth Games that will be held in New Delhi, India, in October 2010. A South African team will also participate at a Commonwealth tournament in India later in the year as part of the build-up to the Games.

Three of the four local wrestlers who took part at the Senior World Championships in Denmark last month are among the favourites in their respective weight classes.

Richard Addinall (74kg), Gerald Meyer (84kg) and Etienne van Huyssteen (96kg) should, however expect strong opposition from wrestlers such as Pierre Botha, Nhlankanipo Shongwe, Sloane Goosen and Western Province’s Ig Bella Lufu.

South Africa’s 2008 Beijing Olympian, Heinrich Barnes, will not be in action due to his study commitments in America. In his absence Gauteng North’s Pieter Pienaar should win the gold medal in the 66kg division.

This is the last major event of the 2009 wrestling season and the national championships in the Cadet division (Under-17) will also take place simultaneously.

The action in both competitions starts on at 9am on Saturday at the Gauteng North Wrestling Hall in 26th Avenue, Menlo Park.

Enquiries: Webber Marais. Gauteng North Wrestling 083 269-8972