World medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya, who won gold in the 61kg weight category in the recently concluded Rome Ranking series, said Iran’s Reza Ahmedali Atrinagharchi will be a strong opponent he will look out for in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, 2020.
Apart from Iran, Japan , Korea and Uzbekistan are also strong opponents, the wrestler feels. Dahiya further added that in the Tokyo Olympics, World number 1 Zavur Uguev of Russia will be a tough contender to beat.
Dahiya, who is currently training in Russia, is practicing very hard and eyeing for gold in the Asian Wrestling Championships to the held in New Delhi from February 18-23.
Speaking to WrestlingTV.in from his base in Russia, the Delhi wrestler said that he is giving extra focus on leg defense because that is an area where he currently faces drawbacks.
“I am practicing hard on a regular basis and working especially hard on my leg defense. I need to be stronger on my legs, which will help me defeat my opponents easily,” Dhahiya said.
Dahiya is concentrating hard on his basic techniques and watching videos of other wrestlers, which he says will help him with improvising new strategies.
Also Read: UWW Rankings: 12 Indian wrestlers grab top 10 spots in 30 weight categories
About his training in Russia with Coach and former Olympic medalist Murad Gaidarov, Dhahiya said that there is quite some difference between training in India and in Russia.
“ In Russia, I am practicing and training with better and stronger wrestlers. Each day I am fighting a new wrestlers, each day I am learning a thing or two. Coach Murad is training me in every way possible. He is putting new challenge before me every day and this is making me stronger as a wrestler and improving my techniques,” said Dhahiya.
Speaking about his plans for Tokyo Olympics, Dahiya, who won bronze in the World wrestling Championships, 2019, said that he is aiming for gold and the Asian Wrestling Championship will help him prepare better for the Olympics.
“ I plan to keep working hard, not be victim to any injury and my aim is to definitely bag gold in the Olympics,” Dhahiya signed off.
Excerpts of WrestlingTV.in Exclusive Interview with Tokyo bound Ravi Dahiya.
WrestlingTV : How are you training for the Asian Championships? What are your strategies?
Ravi Dhaiya: I am practicing hard on a regular basis. I am concentrating hard on basic techniques and watching videos of other wrestlers, which will help me improvise new strategies.
WrestlingTV : What are the drawbacks that you are currently facing and how are you working on them?
Ravi Dhaiya: I am facing some drawbacks in leg defense and working especially hard in that area. I need to be stronger on my legs, which will help me defeat my opponents easily
WrestlingTV : In Asian Championships, which players do you think will come across as a strong challenge for you?
Ravi Dhaiya: Iran’s Reza Ahmedali Atrinagharchi will be a strong opponent to look out. Apart from Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan and Korea will also be tough. In the Tokyo Olympics, Russia’s Zavur Uguev will be a tough contender
WrestlingTV : How is training in Russia different from India? How is Coach Murad Gaidarov’s training helping you?
Ravi Dhaiya: In Russia, I am practicing and training with better and stronger wrestlers. Each day I am fighting a new wrestlers, each day I am learning a thing or two. Coach Murad is training me in every way possible. He is putting new challenge before me every day and this is making me stronger as a wrestler and improving my techniques.
WrestlingTV : How are you preparing for Tokyo Olympics?
Ravi Dhaiya: I am aiming for gold in the Tokyo Olympics and the Asian Wrestling Championship will help me prepare better for the Olympics. I plan to keep working hard and not be victim to any injury.
