Indian grapplers confident

“We are very happy that women’s wrestling has been included in the Commonwealth Games. India has very good women wrestlers and now they will get another platform to prove their talent and win medals for the country,” PR Sondhi, national chief coach of wrestling, told IANS.

“All girls are practising very hard and following a strict schedule. We are expecting medals in all seven weight categories and at least three to four golds.”

India is competing in the weight categories of 48 kg, 51 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg and 72 kg.  Five Haryana girls and one each from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh make up the squad.
“We have very good chances in CWG but we are expecting a tough competition from Canada, as they have world champions and Olympics medal winners in their squad,” Sondhi said.

Twenty-eight wrestlers (four from each of the seven categories), including the seven wrestlers selected for the Commonwealth Games, have been honing their skills at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) here for the past few months.

Monika, the female wrestling coach, said the girls are pulling out all stops to win medals in the Oct 3-14 Games.

“All the girls are very hardworking and focused. They are very enthusiastic and want to win medals,” said Monica, who is also a professional wrestler and has done an advanced course in coaching from Japan.