4 Surrey wrestlers among Canada’s 20 at U17 Pan-Ams in Panama
Published 11:15 am Thursday, March 19, 2026
Surrey will be well represented in Panama City at the 2026 U17 Pan-American Championships in the first week of April.
Four teen wrestlers from here — two girls, two boys —are among 20 named to Team Canada by Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) on Thursday (March 19).
On the women’s side, Surrey’s Khushleen Jhalli (WW 69kg division, Canadian Mal club) will make her third trip to Pan-Am championships after earning silver in 2024 and fourth in 2025.
Among men, Surrey’s Uday Billen (FS 110kg, Ruston club) will return to compete after a silver-medal finish in 2025.
The two other Surrey wrestlers competing are Gurleen Dhillon (WW 57kg, Canadian Mal) and Gaurav Bahi (FS 51kg, Canadian Mal).
The full list of Panama-bound athletes is posted on wrestling.ca, along with details about how to watch the action, April 2-4.
Tamara Medwidsky, CEO of WCL, says the talented team “reflects the bright future of wrestling in Canada.”
The U17 Pan-American Championships “are always an exciting moment in the season,” Medwidsky said. “This year they mark the first continental championship of the year and give our developing athletes an opportunity to test themselves against the best in the Americas.
“It’s great to see five returning team members bringing valuable experience to the group. We wish them the very best as they step onto the mat and represent our country with pride.”
Also named by Wrestling Canada Lutte, the national sport governing body for Olympic style wrestling in Canada, are coaches, support staff and officials from across the country including U17 lead coach Frank Mensah and assistant coach Vanessa Brown, personal coaches Dave Spinney, Marcus Nieman, Rob Moore, Aman Dhillon, Dave Narwal and Harjit Billen, team leader Tamara Medwidsky and physiotherapist Teresa Budwal. Stephanie Roberton-Owen will represent Canada as an official.