With no mat training and no tension of any upcoming tournament, Indian wrestlers have found new hobbies to keep themselves busy while in quarantine due to Coronavirus. While some wrestlers have started catching up on missed movies, others have started cooking their favourite dishes. But the most common pastime amongst wrestlers nowadays is reading books. They believe that it will help them stay motivated and will be a new learning curve on their Olympic journey.
Now, as we barrel through another week of remote work, layoffs, and social isolation and a purveying sense of stumbling through the unknown, let us see the books some of our Tokyo Olympic hopeful wrestlers are currently reading.
Bajrang Punia – Bharatiya Pauranik Kathaein by Devdutt Pattanaik:
The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist and three-time world medallist Bajrang Punia is currently reading Bharatiya Pauranik Kathaein by Devdutt Pattanaik. The book is written by Devdutt Pattanaik, an Indian mythologist known for writing books on Indian myths and legends. As the name suggests, Bharatiya Pauranik Kathaein (Stories from Ancient Indian) is a book which contains many short stories from India’s folklore. it and believes it will help him get a better understanding of Indian history.
Jitendar – The Secret by Rhonda Byrne:
2020 Asian Championship silver medallist in 74kg Jitender is currently reading the 2006 best-selling self-help book the Secret. The book is about the power of positive thinking. It suggests the notion the like-minds attracts which implies that if a person emits positive energy, it will be beneficial as it will attract the same kind of energy towards himself. The book has sold 30 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages.
Pooja Dhanda -The Power by Rhonda Byrne:
The Arjuna Award winner Pooja Dhanda has started reading this book. It is the sequel of ‘The Secret’ and was launched in 2010. The book is based on the law of attraction and that positive thinking can create life-changing results like happiness, health and wealth. Its author Byrne says this is a universal rule.
Sakshi Malik – The Power and The Secret:
The 2016 Rio Olympic medallist is reading these books to help her develop positive thoughts. Sakshi has started questioning her skills due to her recent last-minute loses and loss of focus due to pressure in important matches. But she thinks it will help her develop good habits which will benefit her during crucial bouts.
“I have started reading The Power and The Secret. They are good books and many people have recommended it to me,” she said.
