Indian coach first choice for wrestler Bajrang Punia

New Delhi, January 7

Not willing to spend a considerable time abroad under a foreign coach, wrestler Bajrang Punia has decided to train with an Indian coach in the country to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Not only Punia but Ravi Dahiya, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, has also conveyed to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) about his preference to train under Indian coaches instead of hiring a personal coach from abroad. In the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Punia had trained with Georgian Shako Bentinidis and Dahiya had Russian Kamal Malikov to help him, along with a set of Indian coaches at New Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium.

Punia has been trying to hire a foreign coach since his association ended with Bentinidis but his search did not bear any fruit. Even during the ongoing training camp in Russia he looked for a coach but none is willing to come to India, according to the 27-year-old. “These coaches want me to spend at least 80 per cent of the season in their country, a condition which is not acceptable to me. I am willing to spend half the time outside but no one is willing to come to India, so I have decided to train with an Indian coach,” Punia said from Moscow. He did not elaborate why foreign coaches are unwilling to come to India. “I don’t understand what their issue is,” he said.

Dahiya recently began training with long-time friend and sparring partner Arun Kumar. Satpal Singh, who has played a key role in shaping his career, is keeping an eye on his training schedule at Chhatrasal Stadium. “All Ravi wants is one more training partner. We will identify one during the Ranking Series event in Gonda,” said WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar. — PTI