WFI wants Stadnik as women’s coach

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 19

It seems Beijing Olympics silver medallist Andrey Stadnik’s reverence for Baba Ramdev and his sporting gesture of losing a friendly bout to the yoga guru in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) has impressed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). So much so that the wrestling body has offered him the post of chief coach for the national women’s team.

On a serious note, WFI wants to hire the services of the celebrated Ukrainian wrestler for his unique style of coaching and deep knowledge of the game. WFI wants to tap in the services of Stadnik to give a push to India’s women grapplers who have shown a lot of promise in the recent past and are a bright hope for the future. 

Stadnik’s impeccable coaching has played a huge role in the success of his wife Mariya Stadnik. Mariya, who hails from Ukraine but represents Azerbaijan in the Olympics, has won three Olympics medals in the 48kg category, including one bronze and two silver medals. She is a five-time gold medallist in the European Championships. It is the result of Stadnik’s personal coaching that Mariya clinched a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. Stadnik also trains his sister Yana Rattigan, a silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Stadnik was approached by WFI on the sidelines of PWL-2. Apart from coaching Mariya, Stadnik is also working with the coaching staff of Delhi Sultans franchise. “We have made an offer to him. We are well aware of his coaching prowess and want him to train our women’s team for the next Asian Games and Olympics. He, too, has shown interest and responded positively but needs time to think over,” a WFI official said.