Vladimir Mestvirishvili, the late Georgian wrestling coach, who formed the careers of India’s Olympics medal-winning wrestlers Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Bajrang Punia, was named within the listing of Padma Shri winners on Sunday. Mestvirishvili’s posthumous Padma award is well-deserved identical to that of the opposite foreigner who received a Dronacharya award in 2012 — Cuban-born boxing coach BI Fernandez, whose trainees embody Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Vijender Singh.
Bajrang Punia, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist referred to as him a ‘father determine’ to Indian wrestling, whereas 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt mentioned with out Mestvirishvili’s steering, Indian wrestlers wouldn’t have received Olympic medals. Mestvirishvili handed away final yr on the age of 81.
“Every time Sushil, Yogeshwar and my names are mentioned, his title also needs to be taken. He has a serious position within the medals received by India on the Olympics,” Bajrang informed The Indian Categorical on Sunday.
Yogeshwar, who was coached by Mestvirishvili for almost 15 years, gave him credit score for bettering the strategy of Indian wrestlers. “After he got here to India, technical points have been sorted. We had a transparent concept about what must be carried out and why it must be carried out,” Yogeshwar informed this paper, including, “I believed he ought to have gotten the Dronacharya award throughout his lifetime however I thank the federal government for recognizing his contribution and giving him the Padma Shri award.”
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Bajrang recollects a hard-working coach whose coverage was ‘wrestler first’. “He even used to restore the wrestling mat if that was wanted. That’s how a lot he cared for wrestlers. He handled all of the wrestlers as in the event that they have been household. It didn’t matter in the event that they received a medal or not, identical to how a father handled his children. There are only a few coaches who care for wrestlers as soon as coaching is over,” Bajrang added.
Vladimir Mestvirishvili got here to India because the nationwide staff coach in 2003. He went on to spend almost twenty years turning younger, untested wrestlers like Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya into Olympic medallists.
When Bajrang and Mestvirishvili stayed in adjoining rooms on the Sports activities Authority of India’s Bahalgarh centre, the 2 used to share meals.
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“Small issues caught his consideration. Like once we wore simply slippers in winter he would get upset and ask us to put on socks. His technical information was fashionable and he was updated. I’ve travelled overseas with him and have seen the quantity of respect wrestlers from European international locations gave him,” Bajrang added.
Bajrang has cherished recollections of Mestvirishvili. “When he needed to exhibit method to younger wrestlers he used to make me his associate. He was very arms on. He actually helped me when it comes to method,” Bajrang mentioned.
Yogeshwar remembers Mestvirishvili’s kindness and equity. “If after coaching our jersey was moist he would give us his dry jersey to forestall us from catching a chill. In winters, he would give us his monitor fits. From our weight loss program to coaching schedules, he took care of all the things. He didn’t distinguish between a senior and junior wrestler. All he requested for was dedication,” Yogeshwar recalled.
Mestvirishvili, popularly often known as ‘Laado’ among the many wrestlers, was appointed nationwide staff coach in 2003. He remained within the Indian set-up until 2017, when the Wrestling Federation of India didn’t renew his contract. Put up this he skilled wrestlers on the well-known Chhatrasal Stadium akhada in Mannequin City the place he additionally coached Ravi Dahiya, a silver medalist on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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