The Wrestling Federation of India’s decision to have dedicated coaches for the top grapplers is working in more than one ways. Just like a manager’s role in football, the coaches are made responsible for the performance of their athletes. In the Olympic year, not just the federation and its principal sponsor Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles have opened their coffers, but the coaches are also on their toes.
The planning is intense as the onus of bringing the best out of India’s elite wrestlers, also brings with in the responsibility to manage an athlete’s stress and ensure that there are no injuries. In the 2020 Olympic Games contest, a coach’s planning thus becomes the ‘Road to Tokyo’ or ‘Mission Tokyo’ for his ward.
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When the stakes are so high, the strategies become top secret. However, whatever could revealed, Bajrang Punia’s coach Shako Bentinidis share with WrestlingTV in an exclusive telephonic conversation.
A sharp contrast to the saying “You can’t choose your boss”, Bajrang played an important role in Shako’s appointment as head coach at the WFI. The camaraderie between two have been great. The outcome portrays a clear improvement.
The Indian grappler now takes to the mat with more confidence and prowess and off it, he is calm and composed. Bajrang’s ill-famed leg defence has also started showing signs of improvement, courtesy of Shako. A lot still needs to be done though.
The Georgian coach is working very hard with India’s biggest medal hope for the Tokyo Games wrestling competition.
Shako does not like when there is too much hype around Bajrang’s performance and has been vocal of the unnecessary pressure put on his disciple. “Playing in front of the home crowd can be stressful and Bajrang experienced the same. But I feel there was unnecessary hype around him, which had put mental pressure on Bajrang to perform better,” Sakho told WrestlingTV on Bajrang missing out on Asian Championships gold.
Bajrang lost to Japan’s Takuto Otoguro in the final of the Asian Championships in New Delhi. Bajrang is known for his endurance and second-round comebacks. But he struggled against the Japanese and was exhausted by the end of the match, a not so ‘Bajrangish’ trait.
Shako is disappointed at missing the gold, but content with Bajrang’s showing. “I am satisfied with his performance. He looked better and tried to use techniques in a real match which we have been training in practice,” says the coach.
“Bajrang is very strong and hardworking but his critics need to understand wrestlers cannot be at the top every time.”
The 2018 Asian Games gold medallist has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and will be traveling to Russia in the first week of March to train. “We will be leaving on March 4 or 5. We are still waiting for WFI’s confirmation as our visas still have not been approved,” said Shako.
The 65kg category in which Bajrang will contest at the Tokyo Games is dubbed as the toughest for the upcoming Summer Games.
“65kg is the most challenging weight category currently. There are many good wrestlers like Rashidov Gadhimurad, Daulet Niyazbekov, Takuto Otoguro, Al Haji Mohamad. Now, Bekbulatov has also entered the 65kg. There are no favorites as the field has become very unpredictable. Anybody can win it.”
“Bajrang needs to work harder and then only we have a chance to win the gold at Olympics,” he added.
Shako is optimistic that if Otoguro and Bajrang meet at the Olympics, the latter will overpower him this time. “Otoguro is strong and dangerous but we have seen him play. Now we know his strength and weakness and will win the next time we meet him,” he reveals.
Bajrang is currently No.2 in the 65kg UWW rankings and will be hoping to better his standings for a benefit in the Games’ seeding. Shako is keeping an eye on three competitions and will decide which one is better according to the situation.
“We have Dan Kolov – Nikola Petrov (Bulgaria), Canada Cup and Poland Rankings Series in mind. But will decide our participation according to the demand of the situation.”
“We are only looking to improve our rankings ahead of the Olympics,” he sighed off.
