Wrestler Anshu con dent of a good show at Paris Olympics
She talks about the work put in to return from injury, her inspiration Vinesh Phogat and the belief of securing the remaining quota places at the quali
hree more years of experience, improved muscle mass and more maturity have helped former World championships silver medallist wrestler Anshu Malik grow in con dence in the run-up to the Paris Olympics.
Anshu, who overcame a frustrating knee injury which kept her out of the mat for most part of the last year, has rode on her better tness level to bounce back in style to assert herself rst at the competitive domestic level and then at the Asian Olympic Games quali er in Bishkek to secure her second consecutive Olympic quali cation in women’s 57kg.
While remaining focused on her training with an aim of achieving her peak by the time of the Olympics, the 22-year-old, who had crashed out in the
rst round in the Tokyo Games in 2021, is quietly con dent about her ability to medal this time in Paris.
Looking back at her injury lay-o, which coincided with the wrestlers’ protest and the negativity surrounding Indian wrestling last year, Anshu said her positivity pushed her ahead.
“In the last Asian championships (in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April 2023) I picked up the injury (while winning a bronze). I began training early for the Asian Games, but I again got injured 10 days prior to the Asian Games trials. It was a tough time because of such a long lay-o
Tand I wanted to make a comeback as 2024 was an important year because of the Olympics. I stayed positive, I thought if the injury had happened there must be something good in it,” Anshu told The Hindu. “An athlete needs to leave behind all sorts of negativity and go forward positively. We needed to remain mentally strong and keep ghting. Whatever be the situation, we have to accept it and move forward. Sport teaches us that.”
Planned approach
A planned approach helped Anshu become ghting t. “After returning from injury, I had planned my comeback, which competition I should participate in and for how much duration I should train. It has been going on smoothly as per my plans.
“We have planned it well (to reach my peak around the Olympics). That’s why I fought the Nationals in 59kg. I had put on a lot of weight, my body weight was around 68kg-69kg, after the injury. I had to cut that. Had I cut down to 57kg, then the chances of injury would have increased. Everyone recommended that I should ght at 59kg, because in trials there was a two kg tolerance. I maintained 59kg even after the trials so that I don’t face any problems during the Asian Olympic quali er. Meanwhile, I went to Japan for training and there I learnt a lot and noticed improvement in my game. I know how much work I need to do for myself.
“My tness level is much better now, my body is in good shape. After coming back from the knee injury, I had some apprehensions as I had not competed for a while. I competed in the National championships and selection trials (for the Asian Olympic quali er). Slowly I grew in con dence,” said Anshu.
Elaborating on the bene ts of her training in Japan, Anshu said, “When I went there I found Olympic and World champions in training. When you train with the legends, you learn where to work. In our academy, I train with the boys. Some days when I do well and feel great about it. Some other days when I don’t do well, I get disheartened. In Japan I found champions in 53kg, 57kg, 62kg etc. So when I fought with them, I got an idea where I stood and on which areas I should work on and how much work was needed.
“Japan is a leading country in women’s wrestling. When you compete with their wrestlers, you get to know where you lag.
“I will go to Japan again next week for training but for the trials we have to return early. We have planned a 40-day training schedule.”
Much wiser
Anshu has become much wiser since the last Olympics. “At that time I was younger. My muscle mass was less. I was training but it was not enough. After the Tokyo Olympics, I got to know where I stood and what were the areas of improvement. Now