Indian coaches incapable of training athletes for the Olympics, says Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat has stated that even though Indian coaches have helped throughout her journey so far, they aren't capable enough to train her for higher levels like the Olympics. The wrestler also stated that she is in search of a foreign coach to train her for the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo.
Vinesh’s wrestling journey began in 2013 when she won a bronze in the women's freestyle 52 kg category in New Delhi at the Asian wrestling championship. And she has followed her impressive form since then, winning a gold in freestyle 48kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, a bronze in the same category at the Asian games 2014 in Incheon, and a silver in the 2015 Asian championship.
Vinesh was unfortunately ruled out of the Rio Olympics due to a dreadful knee injury and she compensated her absence with a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in the 50 kg category, when most others failed to even clinch a medal. Phogat's career has been guided by Indian coaches so far, but the 24-year-old has now been of the opinion that she would need help from foreign coaches to learn new strategies ahead of the biggest stage two years later.
“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,” she said on the sidelines of a felicitation function organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
“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,” she quoted.
The knee injury in 2016 had left Vinesh writhing in pain, which was followed by a long painful period of rehabilitation. However, the injury did not break Phogat’s spirit as she evidently made a strong comeback at the Asiad 2018 by beating Japan's Yuki Erie, who had defeated her in the 2015 Asian Championship.
“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,” she said.
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