Resting on laurels is not on - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Resting on laurels is not on

Hindustan Times | By, Chandigarh
Aug 29, 2012 11:33 AM IST

KD Jadhav’s bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games gave India their first individual medal at the Olympics. Fifty six years later, at Beijing, Sushil Kumar’s bronze again brought wrestling into focus.

KD Jadhav’s bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games gave India their first individual medal at the Olympics. Fifty six years later, at Beijing, Sushil Kumar’s bronze again brought wrestling into focus.

HT Image
HT Image


Now, the grapplers' performance in London has put the sport on centrestage.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The five-member squad, including Geeta Phogat, the first woman wrestler to compete in an Olympics, won two medals.

Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze, 60kg) and Sushil (silver, 66kg) created history by becoming the country’s first sportsperson to win two individual Olympic medals.

“The performance in London shows that wrestling is the number one sport in the country. Apart from winning two medals, 18-year-old Amit Kumar fought brilliantly and made it to the quarterfinals,” says Sushil.

“After Beijing, we didn’t waste time and started to prepare for the next Games, We will again have to take the same path if we are to continue with our progress in the world arena,” he adds.

With four years to Rio, the authorities (sports ministry and Wrestling Federation of India) have to play a pivotal role to ensure the grapplers come up with an improved show.

Stick to long camps
The 2010 Commonwealth Games introduced the trend of long coaching camps, and they gave results too.

The camp continued even after the CWG and extended till the London Games. Now, the ministry should extend the camps keeping 2016 in mind.

Foreign exposure
Asked about the difference in the preparations for the Beijing and London Olympics, Yashvir Singh's answer is: “Foreign exposure. We had a good number of foreign outings after the Beijing Olympics and it helped us raise the bar in London,” said Sushil's coach, who was in the camp for both the Olympics.

“Before going for the London Games, we had training stints in America and Belarus. Our wrestlers got an opportunity to compete with their best wrestlers and it helped us a lot. Looking at the results, this trend should continue,” he added.

Scientific backup
Both in Beijing and London, the squad did not have a full-time physiotherapist. In no mood to take a chance, Sushil took physio, Arvinderpal Singh, who has been with the national camp for the last two years, to London and it helped him.

“I had said earlier too that a physio is an important part of our support system. Given the competitive nature of our sport and the fact that we fight four-six bouts in a day makes the presence of a full-time physio and masseur all the more crucial. Else, we can never be at our best. If we want to improve, we should have the best talent in this section too,” says Sushil.

“Earlier, things were different. Though the support system, including scientific backup, has been there for long, we never paid heed. Now, we are concerned about it and it has shown us results. A support system should be there, not only at the senior level, but also for the juniors," says Yogeshwar.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Saurabh Duggal is based in Chandigarh and has over 15 years experience as sports journalist. He writes on Olympic Sports.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On