India few steps away from winning Olympics gold: Dutt

The Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardee Olympic medalist wrestler will flag off the Samata Daud to be held at Wardha on Saturday. Prior to that while talking to media persons in Nagpur Dutt expressed his hopes from the Indian wrestlers for the forthcoming Olympic.

He said that the preparations for the Olympics are going in the right direction and he is confident that this time the wrestlers will return with gold metal.

“The preparations are going well. The wrestlers’ only aim is to win gold medal at 2028 Games. Wrestlers like Antim Panghal, Aman Sehrawat, Deepak Punia to name a few are bright prospects for India. They have done well in the Asian championships and other international events. I am sure they will return with gold medals,” said Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award winner and silver medal winner at 2012 London Olympics Dutt said.

Asked about the scenario of wrestling in India, the wrestler said, “There is always scope for the improvement. But as far as wrestling is concerned, the since 2008 Olympics, wrestling has won medals at almost every Games. Wrestling is growing in our country. Now, attention has to be given at grassroot level. We need to strengthen the bench strength. We need to concentrate on the 15 and 17 years wrestlers. They are the future of our country, said the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medalist”.

Asked about the contribution of foreign coaches, he said, “Foreign coaches have done well in India and they bring new ideas to the game. They suggest minor corrections which helps the wrestlers in clinching the medals.”

Dutt was of the view that there is a need of good coaches at all levels. “Be it a sub-junior, junior or senior, we need good coaches to train the budding wrestlers,” the 2013 Padma Shri award winner said.

NDCC secretary Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Arvind Karwande, Rajiv Wankhede, Pramod Tabhane were also present during the media interaction. Dutt will move to Wardha to flag off the Samta Daud on Saturday.

'There should be no

sporting ties with Pak'

Yogeshwar Dutt was of the view that there should be no sporting ties will be established with the neighbouring Pakistan who is supporting terror.

“We should never play with a country which is promoting and producing terror. Our soldiers are guarding us at the front and sacrificing their lives for us. Why should we play with them. In my view it would be country first. There are several other countries to play sports with. But not with Pakistan,” said Dutt.