Vinesh Phogat wants foreign coach for Olympic medal
After winning a gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games, , ace wrestler aims big at Tokyo Games
LUCKNOW: Jakarta Asian Games gold-medallist in wrestling, Vinesh Phogat, feels Indian coaches are not good enough to produce Olympic champions.
Speaking on the sidelines of a felicitation function orgainsed by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Vinesh said, “Indian coaches are giving results. But for an event like the Olympics, where the level of competition is very high, we need foreign coaches who can plan each day and discuss every aspect of our game like speed, stamina and strength besides technique.”
Winner of gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, Vinesh who clinched the top spot in Jakarta in the 50kg category, said she was scouting for a personal coach in a bid to bring home a medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Hungarian Waller Ako helped me fill the gap (before the Asian Games) and gave me some useful lessons. Those instructions mattered a lot in Jakarta. I feel that in order to win an Olympic medal, I’ll need the help of a personal coach like Waller.
“Before the Asian Games, I went to Hungary and overcame the shortcomings. My gold at the Spanish Grand Prix was the result of that training. If I get the same training over the next two years, I will certainly win an Olympic medal,” said Vinesh, bronze medallist at the 2014 Incheon Games.
Vinesh said her heart-breaking loss at the 2016 Rio Olympics had taught her many things. “I used to play aggressive, and I paid the price for it in Rio. Now, I know how to challenge a rival. Even in the final at the Asian Games, I held myself for long in crunch situations.”
At the felicitation ceremony, Vinesh was in her elements, celebrating her victory with Asian Games bronze medallist Divya Kakran her cousin Geeta Phogat, the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Vinesh said, on many occasions she had entertained the thought of giving up the sport owing to the punishing training regimen.
“Several times, I thought of quitting the sport after a tough training session. But I did not want to let people down who had faith in my abilities… so I started training with passion and zeal.”
Aiming for her maiden medal at the World Championships at Budapest from October 20-28, Vinesh said she would like to finish the season on a high. “I would like to win my first gold at Budapest and finish the season in style. This is my biggest aim for the season.”
NOW, DIVYA FOR GOLD!
Young wrestler Divya Kakran is on high five after winning a bronze medal at the recently concluded Asian Games at Jakarta/ Palembang, and now she wants to change the colour of her medal at the World Championship in October this year.
“I would love to better my performance and win gold at the World Championship as it’s my dream,” Kakran said on Monday.
The Muzzafarnagar girl Kakran, 20, who had a bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April this year, denied her rival even a small chance to stand before her and won on account of Technical Superiority with the final scoreline reading 10-0 in the 68 kg category.
“I wasn’t sure of such an easy outing, but it turned out to be so easy. I was focused to my plan and it really worked well though I was expecting some resistance from Taipei girl,” Divya said.
”My coach (Kuldeep Malik) had more confidence in me than myself. That was my first Asian Games and first medal. I am glad I could I do it.”