MUMBAI: Sushil Kumar’s bronze at the Beijing Olympics was a watershed moment for wrestling in India, one which made Indian grapplers believe that a medal was attainable.
However, the recent medal in the sport is as much courtesy Japanese wrestlers as Sushil’s exploits in China eight years ago.
Sakshi Malik, who won a bronze at Rio, said she took inspiration from Japanese wrestlers like Kaori Icho, who won gold at Rio in Sakshi’s weight class.
“As far as women’s wrestling is concerned, Japan is very good. I saw how girls from that country like Kaori trained and learnt their life stories. That inspired me a lot as a wrestler,” Sakshi said here on Tuesday.
She added that Indian grapplers had a lot to learn from their foreign counterparts, who she said were disciplined beyond measure.
“I’ve learnt a lot from wrestlers of other countries in the last few months when we had training camps in Spain and Bulgaria. They are disciplined beyond measure and quiet.”
She said the knowhow the foreign wrestlers got from their coaches was behind their success.
“The coaches of foreign grapplers instruct them on everything, be it how much to eat or which supplements to take. The athletes are micro-managed. We (Indian wrestlers) don’t even know at what time we need to take supplements or which one to take at what time. We’re sometimes just sent supplements, without being instructed on what to do. If we are properly taught, we can also be world beaters,” said the 24-year-old.
{{/usCountry}}“The coaches of foreign grapplers instruct them on everything, be it how much to eat or which supplements to take. The athletes are micro-managed. We (Indian wrestlers) don’t even know at what time we need to take supplements or which one to take at what time. We’re sometimes just sent supplements, without being instructed on what to do. If we are properly taught, we can also be world beaters,” said the 24-year-old.
{{/usCountry}}Sakshi believes that Indian wrestlers would benefit if their personal coaches were to accompany them to events like the Olympics.
“If our personal coaches don’t accompany us to the Olympics, we will struggle to perform. They have been with us for so many years. They even point out our faults in training bouts, so how can they not accompany us to the Olympics?”
Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu said her success is due to the unconditional support from her parents.
“My mom has taken voluntary retirement and my dad took leave for five months before the (Rio) Olympics. Because of their support and motivation, I am here today. They never questioned my choice to play badminton when I started out at the age of eight,” said Sindhu at a felicitation ceremony here on Tuesday.
She also thanked coach Pullela Gopichand for his mentorship.
Gopichand said India’s education system needed a rethink.
“It is time our education system does a relook at things. We need to put physical literacy up there,” he said.
Sindhu was awarded Rs 75 lakh by the Maharashtra government while Gopichand was given Rs 25 lakh. A cash award of Rs 75 lakh was announced for steeplechaser Lalita Babar, who finished 10th at Rio. Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik will get Rs 50 lakh.