Wrestling News: Bajrang Punia and his coach Shako Bentinidis will reunite after three months, as the Georgian coach will return to India on July 30. Upon arrival, he will be put in a seven-day quarantine in a hotel, after which he will be put under house quarantine for another seven days. “I will land in New Delhi on July 30. I will be put under quarantine for 14 days, after which I will fly to Bangalore,” he said.
Shako had left India in March after the covid-19 triggered the suspension of national camp in Sonepat. He will be travelling by Air India which is meant stranded Indians in Georgia. He will be travelling under special consideration given his role in Bajrang and Jitender’s preparations for Tokyo Olympics.
“The flight is meant for Indians stranded in Georgia. However, we spoke to the Indian Embassy and explained to them the need to fly us out. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) coordinated with Air India,” he told New Indian Express.
Once he completes the quarantine period, Shako will fly to Bangalore and join his ‘monkey team’ at Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS) for training.
Temo Kazarashvili, India’s Greco-Roman team coach will also return to India. Reportedly, he and Shako will be travelling on the same flight.
Tokyo Olympics plans
Shako said that they will begin training for each opponent separately whenever they resume training together. “When we resume training we will change the characteristics of the training and will prepare for each opponent individually,” he said adding that their goal is to win India its first Olympic gold medal. “We do not have to keep in top shape for a whole year but we need to be fit and hit the peak by the time Olympics arrive. This is the most important thing for us”.