Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal, Deepak Punia Secure Asian Games Berths

Wrestlers Shine at Lucknow Trials

Lucknow witnessed a memorable Sunday for Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal, and Deepak Punia as they secured their berths for the Asian Games scheduled later this year. Despite the intense heat outside, the wrestling hall at Lucknow's SAI Centre was packed with over 150 wrestlers competing for a spot.

The trials were closely observed by men's freestyle wrestling coach Shako Bentinidis, who has joined the national camp here. The Georgian coach has been reappointed with the Asian Games in focus, particularly emphasizing Sujeet Kalkal, the reigning U23 world champion in the 65kg category. Bentinidis believes Kalkal has the potential to become an Olympic medalist.

Coach's Insights on Sujeet Kalkal

Shako pointed out that Kalkal needs to further sharpen his technical skills to dominate the highly competitive 65kg category. "Sujeet has won ranking series tournaments and is a world champion at the U23 level, but the Olympic Games are different. The Olympics are not just about wrestling; they are about psychology, preparation, and handling pressure," Shako told Times of India.

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The Georgian coach was particularly impressed by Sujeet's physical gifts and defensive abilities. "First it was Sushil Kumar, then Bajrang, and now Sujeet," he said while assessing the wrestler. "When Sujeet adds a little more quality to his technical wrestling, he can beat anybody. He has amazing power, very good defense, and great potential. He can become even better."

Sehrawat's Dominance in 57kg

On the mat, Aman Sehrawat appeared composed as he controlled the 57kg division throughout. He defeated Rupesh 10-0 by technical superiority in the semifinal, followed by an 11-1 win over Rahul in the final.

Kalkal's Attacking Approach in 65kg

In the 65kg category, Sujeet Kalkal impressed with his intensity and attacking approach. He beat Nikhil 10-0 by technical superiority in the semifinal and then edged Vishal 2-0 in the final to book his first-ever Asian Games spot.

Speaking to Times of India, Kalkal said he followed in the footsteps of his father Dayanand Kalkal, a former wrestler who served in the army and represented India at the senior World Championships. He handled the pressure of the trials with calmness and positivity after missing out previously, calling this selection "the first step" toward his bigger goal of representing India at the Olympics.

Shako's Views on Indian Coaching

While expressing his love for India and sharing fond memories from his previous four-year stint, Shako was critical of the Indian coaching system. He rejected the suggestion that Indian coaches are poor, noting that the country could not have produced champions such as Sushil Kumar and Bajrang without capable guidance. "Otherwise we (India) would not have taken so many medals," he pointed out.

Yet, he added, "Every coach needs the next step. Some coaches work in academies for 20 years but never attend international camps or competitions. Wrestling is changing all the time. If you stop learning, you stay where you are."

According to Shako, simply watching international wrestling online is not enough. "You learn wrestling in camps. You watch techniques closely, you see mistakes, you understand how elite wrestlers train and prepare. That experience cannot come only from watching videos," he explained.