Bajrang needs to improve leg defence: Mentor Yogeshwar
Punia’s defeat in the final of the Wrestling World Championships in Budapest, losing to Japan’s Takuto Otoguro, has taught him crucial lessons and the Indian will return stronger, feels mentor and Olympic medallist, Yogeshwar Dutt.
Bajrang has already achieved special status in Indian wrestling as the only one to win two medals at the World Championships. The silver in 65kg came five years after he burst on to the scene as a teenage talent by winning a bronze medal in the 60kg in 2013.
This season, Bajrang has been on a roll with gold in the Commonwealth and Asian Games and was favourite to win gold at the worlds too. “Bajrang is dejected he could not win gold. But I told him there will be plenty of opportunities. He should learn from the bout and improve. Next year’s World Championships will be important as it is an Olympic qualification event, and then Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He needs to move on,” said Yogeshwar, who won bronze at the 2012 London Games.
Asked what Bajrang, 24, could have done differently in the final, Yogeshwar said the Japanese was very fast and exposed Bajrang’s leg defence. “Bajrang has been working on his leg defence and he has improved. But there is more scope to get better. He needs to strengthen his defence. The Japanese was quick to attack and had a 5-0 score within seconds. It was creditable that Bajrang covered the gap and was almost on level terms.
“The Japanese was taking rest and coming back stronger (showing gamesmanship). He has not played much at senior level so far, so we didn’t have his videos to prepare for. Now when Bajrang fights him, we will prepare a different strategy,” said Yogeshwar.