Grapplers will do well at the Asian Games

Indian wrestlers have always put up a good fight at the Commonwealth Games. With a tally of 23 Gold medals, 24 silver and 11 bronze over the history of the Commonwealth Games, the numbers speak for themselves. The sport, which was given a miss at the 2006 Melbourne CWG, was taken back into the competition roster for the 2010 Delhi edition of the games.

The Indian wrestling team had to face a speed breaker in the run up to the Delhi CWG. Though the entire controversy was really an ordeal, we looked at it very positively. We decided to hit back and hit back hard to ensure that the critics were silenced, and an array of 10 Medals at the end of the Games did exactly that.



Delhi's medal rush has had a two-fold effect for Wrestling in India. One, it gave us a solid lift off, one that was direly needed ahead of the 2010 Asiad and two, it has made a country realize that its grapplers are indeed a force to reckon with and that they can be depended on to bring pride and glory to the country.

Though it was very difficult to do so, but owing to shoulder, neck and arm injuries, I had to give the 2010 Asiad a miss. Disheartening as it may be, I've decided to let the doctors speak this time around and ensure that I'm completely fit for the Olympic qualifications and to defend my title at the 2011 World Championship in Turkey next year.

As unfortunate as it is that I'm unable to join the team and carry the Tricolor at Guangzhou, I did have the chance to witness the team's camp at Sonepat and the rigorous training that my fellow athletes went through in preparation for the 2010 Asiad. Considering the challenge posed by wrestlers from Iran, South Korea, Japan and Mongolia, some of whom we have managed to beat at occasions before, the wrestling contingent has its task cut out for itself in light of facing formidable opposition.

With CWG Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists, Geeta, Nirmala Devi and Suman Kundu being a part of the Women's wrestling team, chances for victory at the 2010 Asiad are high. Women's wrestling in India is on the threshold of becoming a reckoning force in the wrestling fraternity globally.

The men's team consisting of strong contenders like Yogeshwar Dutt, Pradeep Kumar, Narsing Yadav and Sanjay, will surely put up a good show in China. I'm confident that our team will prove its might on the mat yet again and make the actual competition as exciting and pulsation as the prelude to the 2010 Asian Games has been.

Professional Management Group