FILA weight changes hit Sushil, Yogeshwar
19 Dec 2013 5:50 AM IST
The decision to drop the two categories was taken by FILA on Tuesday in Geneva while tweaking the 18 weight divisions and this reworking has hit the Indian wrestlers hard. Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) secretary general Raj Singh said on Wednesday that the FILA decision will be a body blow to Indian wrestling.
‘The decision will affect Indian wrestling. We had high hopes from both the categories because we have won three medals in the last two Olympics. But it will also affect other countries as well,’ Singh said.
Sushil and Yogeshwar though still have three years to move into the new weight categories and their coaches have different viewpoints on the weights they should move into. Double Olympic medallist Sushil - bronze in 2008 Beijing Games and silver in 2012 London Games - fought in the 66kg freestyle category, while Yogeshwar won the 60kg bronze in London.
The immediate reaction to the changes was mixed, particularly from the two coaches of the two Olympians. While Sushil’s coach and father-in-law Satpal feels that he should go into the 65 kg category as it is the nearest to the division he has been fighting in. Another long time coach Yashvir Singh wants him to go into the 74kg weight category by putting on eight kilos to improve his chances. Both Satpal and Yashbir concede that the tweaking will have some adverse affect on the chances.
‘I think the world body has something against India. We were doing really well in the 60kg and the 66kg categories and now they have suddenly removed the two categories from the next Olympics. It will surely affect our medal prospects. We were targeting 5-6 medals in Rio and now we have to re-draw,’ Satpal said.
‘The decision will affect Indian wrestling. We had high hopes from both the categories because we have won three medals in the last two Olympics. But it will also affect other countries as well,’ Singh said.
Sushil and Yogeshwar though still have three years to move into the new weight categories and their coaches have different viewpoints on the weights they should move into. Double Olympic medallist Sushil - bronze in 2008 Beijing Games and silver in 2012 London Games - fought in the 66kg freestyle category, while Yogeshwar won the 60kg bronze in London.
The immediate reaction to the changes was mixed, particularly from the two coaches of the two Olympians. While Sushil’s coach and father-in-law Satpal feels that he should go into the 65 kg category as it is the nearest to the division he has been fighting in. Another long time coach Yashvir Singh wants him to go into the 74kg weight category by putting on eight kilos to improve his chances. Both Satpal and Yashbir concede that the tweaking will have some adverse affect on the chances.
‘I think the world body has something against India. We were doing really well in the 60kg and the 66kg categories and now they have suddenly removed the two categories from the next Olympics. It will surely affect our medal prospects. We were targeting 5-6 medals in Rio and now we have to re-draw,’ Satpal said.
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