Focus on training, WFI tells wrestling couple Sakshi and Kadian

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 18

Wrestling’s World Championships begin in Paris on August 21, but India has a problem — the wrestler who was the toast of the nation a year ago has given reasons to worry to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Last year, Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and consequently, she is being counted as India’s biggest medal hope in Paris. However, according to sources in WFI, Sakshi has apparently been “wasting” practice time in sightseeing in Paris with her husband Satyawart Kadian, who is also part of the Indian contingent training for the World Championships. According to the sources, the two even crossed over to a German town for a short visit. 

WFI was informed of all this by the Indian coaches attached with the contingent. As a result, Sakshi and Kadian have been asked by WFI to focus solely on their training.

Sakshi and Kadian, a Glasgow CWG silver medallist in the 97kg category, got married in April.

Target Paris

“Though the two were attending the training sessions, but at times, they either reported late or took off early from practice,” a WFI source informed. “WFI wouldn’t have any problem had they been doing it in their spare time, after the training sessions. But since the coaches cited some instances where they did it during their training time, WFI instructed them to focus solely on the Worlds and keep their sightseeing plans for a later stage. Malik is our star performer and such complaints about her don’t look good.”

“The World Championships is a very tough competition,” a WFI office-bearer added. “It’s the first major global wrestling event after the Rio Games. WFI has been spending a lot of money on the preparation and training of wrestlers. So it’s important that our team performs well there.”

Camp Paris

The 24-member strong Indian contingent, comprising the men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers, has been camping at Boulevard de Bercy borough of Paris since August 6 to prepare for the Worlds. The Indian contingent has been attending special training sessions at de Bercy’s wrestling centre, and on Saturday it will shift to the team hotel in Paris. 

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi, 2014 Glasgow CWG gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, Incheon Asian Games silver medallist Bajrang and Asian Championships gold medallist Sandeep Tomar will spearhead the Indian challenge at the Worlds.