CBSE has picked three host schools for its national selection trials in wrestling and karate, the step that decides who represents the board at the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) National School Games for 2026-27. Wrestling comes first, at Lonavala in Maharashtra, from 22 October.
The venues and dates are in CBSE circular Acad-65/2026 dated 7 October 2026, signed by Prof Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics). It follows circular Acad-64/2026 of 1 October, which invited schools to host the trials and which we reported in our story on CBSE's call for SGFI trial hosts.
Venues and dates
Wrestling (free style), boys and girls: reporting on 21 October, events from 22 to 24 October 2026, at Sinhgad Public School, Lonavala STES Campus, Kusgaon BK, Lonavala, Pune (affiliation number 1130100).
Karate, girls: reporting on 15 November, events from 16 to 19 November 2026, at Delhi Smart Public School, Byepass Lakhmankhedi, Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh (affiliation number 1031360).
Karate, boys: reporting on 24 November, events from 25 to 28 November 2026, at BPS Convent School, NH 52, Manasiya Road, Laxmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan (affiliation number 1730533).
The circular covers free style wrestling only. Girls' and boys' karate are held a week apart in two different states, so a school sending both teams will need two separate trips and two sets of escorts.
The circular gives an email address and phone number for each host school, so team managers can confirm arrangements directly. Lonavala sits in the hills between Mumbai and Pune, and Sikar is in Rajasthan's Shekhawati region. Reporting is set for the day before each event begins, which means teams travelling long distances to Lonavala, Shajapur or Sikar should book trains or buses with that day in mind, not the first day of bouts.
How schools send entries
Schools must email their students' entries straight to the organising school at least five days before the event. For the wrestling trials, that means by about 17 October. For girls' karate it is about 11 November, and for boys' karate about 20 November.
These are selection trials, so no certificates will be given. Players compete for a place in the CBSE squad, not for a medal at this stage.
Rules for both sports follow SGFI rules. The existing CBSE Games rules on accommodation, meals and ID cards apply, so players should carry their school identity cards to the venue.
Weight categories
An annexure lists age and weight categories for Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 boys and girls. In wrestling, Under-14 boys range from 35 kg to 75 kg and Under-14 girls from 30 kg to 62 kg. At Under-19 level, boys go from 57 kg up to 125 kg and girls from 50 kg to 76 kg.
Karate categories start lighter. Under-14 boys begin at 20 kg and Under-14 girls at 18 kg. Under-17 and Under-19 boys start at 35 kg and go above 82 kg, while girls in those age groups start at 32 kg and go above 68 kg.
The SGFI National School Games are the main national competition for school teams. Boards such as CBSE take part as units, so a player first has to win a place in the CBSE squad at these trials before competing at the nationals.
Coaches should weigh players well before the trial date and enter them in the right band. Making weight on the morning of the event, after a long train journey, is the last thing a school wants to leave to chance.
Safety and insurance
The safety and security of players, teams and coaches is the joint responsibility of the participating and organising schools. Under SGFI norms, every school must arrange insurance for all members of its delegation, covering health, accident and travel.
For anything else, schools can contact Dr Manjit Singh, Additional Director (Sports), CBSE, at manjit.cbse@gmail.com or cbsegames@gmail.com. For the wider push on school sport this year, see our report on the NSRS module for physical education teachers.
