New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Asian Games gold-winning wrestler Sujeet Kalkal on Wednesday revealed that he is working specifically on his ground game after coaches identified it as an area that could make his already aggressive attacking style even more effective in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Sujeet, who stormed to the men’s 65kg freestyle gold in his Asian Games debut, said his coaches have asked him to improve his ability to attack from ground positions as well as defend better, areas that he admitted need to be worked on.
“First of all, the situations that frequently come in my bouts, I have to work on those more. On the ground, my coach has told me that there is a little weakness, so in the future, I will attack from the ground and defend well,” Sujeet said in a virtual interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The Haryana wrestler’s success in the Asian Games was built around a much more aggressive approach, something he said national freestyle coach Emzarios “Shako” Bentinidis had specifically worked with him after making him realise that he was not attacking enough despite winning a competition in Russia.
“I thought that If I have an attack, then I should do it. In this match, I attacked and scored in every bout,” he said.
Sujeet has now set his sights firmly on becoming an Olympic champion, saying the disappointment of missing the Paris Games is behind him and he will focus on the present and future as he prepares for the 2028 Games.
“The Olympics is the dream of every sportsperson. To become an Olympic champion, to keep our country’s flag at the top. So, if we are preparing for the Olympics, then go for gold,” Sujeet said in a virtual interaction with the media on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old had missed the Paris Olympics after India failed to secure a quota in his category. The wrestler recalled that circumstances, including floods that prevented him from reaching the qualification event, were beyond his control.
“What happened in Paris, it was God’s will. We can’t do anything about it. We will try our best not to focus too much on the past. We will focus on our present and future,” he said.
Sujeet’s Asian Games triumph was particularly significant after the setbacks he endured in the build-up to Paris.
He said his approach in Nagoya was to keep fighting till the last second, especially after falling 2-9 behind in the final.
“If I am losing, then it is my duty to fight till my last breath. Whatever power is left in us, I will give it my all,” he said. PTI AH PM AH PM
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