Fit and raring to go: Yogeshwar
Aatish Sharma, New Delhi, Dec 10, 2015, DHNS:
A day before the start of inaugural Pro Wrestling League, Haryana Hammers icon wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt quelled doubts about his fitness and said he was looking forward to competing and winning the tournament for his franchise.
The wrestler is returning from an injury that kept him out of the World Championships in September. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist said he was now in good shape and the league would be a good testing ground for him to regain confidence and prepare for Rio Olympics.
“I am fully fit and raring to compete. Given the fact that I am the icon player of Haryana Hammers, I am confident of taking the team forward and winning the inaugural event,” said Dutt at the launch event of the franchise here on Wednesday.
Dutt hoped the league would inspire youngsters to take up wrestling. “We hope that parents and young kids watch and get inspired from the sport. We have had a rich heritage of wrestling. It is also a sport where we have maintained a high standard and brought laurels to the nation. The league will be a success if it inspires kids to take up wrestling and we are able to produce the next generation of wrestlers,” said Dutt.
With Olympics round the corner, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee hoped to remain fit and book his berth at the Asian Olympic qualification event in Astana, Kazakhstan in March next year.
The grappler was also planning to train overseas ahead of the qualification event. “I will be going to a foreign country, Russia, USA or any other, whatever the Federation decides. We as a wrestling contingent are hopeful of securing maximum berths and return with a good haul of medals from Olympics,” said Dutt.
“Personally I want to change the colour of my medal. Last time it was bronze, this time I am going to leave nothing to chance and go for the gold.”
Dutt expressed surprised on the reports of pull out of Uttar Pradesh franchise marquee wrestler Sushil Kumar owing to injury. “I had talked to him just two days back, he didn’t mention that. At this point I don’t want to comment. But injuries can happen even during practice sessions. I believe it is important to compete and test your preparations especially before the big tournaments,” said Dutt.
The wrestler is returning from an injury that kept him out of the World Championships in September. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist said he was now in good shape and the league would be a good testing ground for him to regain confidence and prepare for Rio Olympics.
“I am fully fit and raring to compete. Given the fact that I am the icon player of Haryana Hammers, I am confident of taking the team forward and winning the inaugural event,” said Dutt at the launch event of the franchise here on Wednesday.
Dutt hoped the league would inspire youngsters to take up wrestling. “We hope that parents and young kids watch and get inspired from the sport. We have had a rich heritage of wrestling. It is also a sport where we have maintained a high standard and brought laurels to the nation. The league will be a success if it inspires kids to take up wrestling and we are able to produce the next generation of wrestlers,” said Dutt.
With Olympics round the corner, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee hoped to remain fit and book his berth at the Asian Olympic qualification event in Astana, Kazakhstan in March next year.
The grappler was also planning to train overseas ahead of the qualification event. “I will be going to a foreign country, Russia, USA or any other, whatever the Federation decides. We as a wrestling contingent are hopeful of securing maximum berths and return with a good haul of medals from Olympics,” said Dutt.
“Personally I want to change the colour of my medal. Last time it was bronze, this time I am going to leave nothing to chance and go for the gold.”
Dutt expressed surprised on the reports of pull out of Uttar Pradesh franchise marquee wrestler Sushil Kumar owing to injury. “I had talked to him just two days back, he didn’t mention that. At this point I don’t want to comment. But injuries can happen even during practice sessions. I believe it is important to compete and test your preparations especially before the big tournaments,” said Dutt.
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