Indian grapplers aiming 4-5 medals in Olympics: Ravinder, Anil

New Delhi, Oct 6 (India Report)

The three Indian Greco-Roman wrestling gold winners today said they cannot remain satisfied with the Commonwealth Games laurels and will have to do well in next month&aposs Asian Games with the ultimate aim on podium finish in the 2012 London Olympics.

Ravinder Singh (60kg), Sanjay (74kg) and Anil Kumar (96kg) swept the wrestling gold on Tuesday but they would have to work harder as Indian grapplers are aiming four or five medals in the 2012 Olympics.

"The CWG gold has boosted our confidence and our next big event is the Asian Games next month. Maybe we will have a short break but our coaches have set out a tight training schedule till December. Then we will have World Championships next year which will be the qualifying event for 2012 London Olympics,"Ravinder told a press conference.

"We have a very tight training schedule. Ultimately our aim is to win 4-5 medals in 2012 London Olympics,"he added.

Ravinder said in recent years after the bronze medal by Sushil Kumar, wrestling has risen in profile and they will have to keep it up.

"Some years back nobody is interested in wrestling. But after Sushil&aposs bronze medal and then gold in World Championships recently the profile of the sport has increased and lots of youngsters are taking to wrestling now,"he said.

Anil said winning the Commonwealth Game gold was a big achievement but they will have to keep performing if wrestling have to raise its profile.

"It is a big achievement, we have done something for the country. But we have to keep performing,"he said.
Anil said the hiring of a Georgian coach before the Games had helped in their performance."We learnt a lot from him and I think he was lucky for us,"he said.

He said he kept his cool during his final bout against Fakir despite his opponent provoking him to commit mistakes.

"He thought he was favourite to win gold and when he could not pin me down he was angry. He was taller but I did not allow him to stand up. He was angry because of that. My coach had told me he would try to provoke me and I should keep my calm. I did just that,"he explained.

"People think wrestlers are not intelligent but we have take decision in split second what to do or not. A wrong decision will cost us dear,"he said.

The wrestlers also commented on six of their colleagues being involved in doping recently and said it was difficult for them to find out which was prohibited substance or not.

"People from the federation and NADA come to give awareness about prohibited substances but it is difficult for us to find out which things we used contain banned substances,"Ravinder said.

"It&aposs difficult to know the prohibited substances and we cannot find out which things we used contain banned substances. People say this substance (methylhexaneamine) is contained in massage oil,"he said.

Ravinder also denied that coaches also encouraged their wards to take drugs to enhance their performance.

"No, coach does not spend their money in buying anything and so nothing like giving things which contained banned substances. We spend our own money and buy whatever supplement we use. Our coach has not given even a vitamin,"he said in a lighter vein.

Greco-Roman coach Hargobind Singh said the athletes cannot remember the long list of prohibited substances.

Source :  http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/912025/sports/5/92/5/poi