New Delhi: ‘father-son-son’ Indian Wrestling like three years between Emzarios coach Shako Bentinidis from Georgia and the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal (65kg) Bajrang Punia has ended.
Bajrang has approved the Federation of Wrestling from Indian (WFI) advice to work with a new foreign coach for the next Olympic cycle, leading to Paris 2024, TOI has learned.
The federation has first spoken to a Ukrainian coach for the Bajrang and the announcement can be made as early as next week, after the conclusion of senior citizens in Gonda.
WFI also insisted on hiring a new personal coach for the Tokyo Olympic Silver Medalist (57kg) Ravi Dahiya.
Asian champion twice Dahiya was trained by Kamal Malikov Russia for Tokyo.
The decision to appoint a new foreign coach has been taken considering the busy international calendar next year with Birmingham CWG and Hangzhou Asian Games and World Championship and later, of course, the Paris Olympics 2024.
Shako and Malikov contracts to the Tokyo Olympics.
Both have flown back to their respective countries after the Tokyo match and have been there since then waiting to hear from the federation.
Their salary is paid by the main sponsor of WFI Tata Motors.
WFI, lately, was not impressed with Shako’s training standards after Bajrang returned from Tokyo with bronze.
Also, Shako’s inability to increase Bajrang’s foot defense for years weakened the case.
Georgia with Bajrang since the beginning of 2018.
One of the high points from Shako’s term was Bajrang won gold in Jakarta ASID.
Malikov was originally taken as a sparring partner and fitness expert for the Double Olympic Medalist Sushil Kumar.
But he then took over Ravi as his personal coach in April this year for the Tokyo match.
Already learned that the wrestlers wanted to continue with Malikov but the federation had insisted on a new foreign coach for him too.