Wrestling Federation of India hands termination notice to freestyle coach Hossein Karimi

10/03/2019

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) sacked India’s men’s freestyle coach Hossein Karimi on Wednesday just six months after his appointment as coach. The Federation claimed that the Iranian, who was appointed keeping the 2020 Olympics in mind, was sacked because of his VIP culture.

Hossein Karimi was appointed by the WFI earlier this year with an aim of being there with the men’s freestyle contingent until the next Olympics in 2020. However, the wrestling body has asked him to leave only after six months of his appintment alleging that the Iranian coach has brought a ‘VIP cultue’ with him which will not be followed in India.

“He was following a VIP culture and it was increasingly becoming difficult to cope with his demands. We have intimated SAI about this. We are looking for a new coach,” WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.

“He always had one or other complaint or rather demand. He refused to stay at the Sports Authority of India complex where the national camp is held, so we had to hire a flat near the SAI centre for him. We had to hire a car for him every time he had to travel in India.

“He always insisted on staying alone during tournaments while others shared rooms. Even at the World Championship in Nur-Sultan where two persons were to share the room as per the UWW instructions, he stayed alone. It was difficult to accept all his demands,” said Tomar.

Karimi lacked a proper understanding with the wrestlers and apart from that, the WFI claimed that his expenses stood at $5000 for the federation although his monthly salary was $3500.

“During the tournament, he would go onto the mat but refused to wipe the sweat of wrestlers which all the coaches do during the bouts. Even during training at the camp, because of the same reason, he did not teach techniques by example because he had a problem touching sweat-soaked wrestlers. It can’t work in India,” said Tomar.

On the other hand, the Iranian was not happy with the system in the Indian wrestling circuit. Karimi complained that the system in the country was not good enough for the growth of the sport.

“They have cancelled my contract. In India, the system is not good. There are a lot of problems,” said Karimi.

In the recently-concluded World Championship in Nur-Sultan, Indian men’s freestyle wrestlers won four medals and three Olympic quotas.