Yogeshwar Dutt, winner of bronze medal at 2012 london Olympics and gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games followed by the same result at the Incheon Asian Games, has set his sights on the World Championships in las Vegas (USA) next year.
Dutt, who progressed from his bronze showing at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, was proud to end India’s wait 28-year wait for the gold medal in wrestling.
Speaking to The Pioneer after being felicitated in the capital on Monday by contingent sponsors Samsung, he hoped for the showing to continue and get better with time.
“This gold medal has come after a period of 28 years. And now I hope, with each Asian Games, we don’t return with just one gold medal but with two or three and we don’t have to wait that long. It is difficult to make a comeback once you’re in a rhythm of things.”
In his new 65kg category Dutt was severly tested in the final of the Asian Games winning by 1-0. He shared that the pressure was high in the absence of Sushil Kumar, who had chosen to sit the event out as he prepared for the big one in Rio.
“Definitely there was pressure on me. Sushil asked me to get a gold medal for the country because we’ve not won a gold since 1986 Asian Games (Seoul, South Korea). So that was the pressure but I needed to get out of that pressure situation which I did and won the gold medal.”
Having competed in the 60kg category in london, Dutt has moved on to 65kg category but he thinks the new weight category is more suitable for him.
“I have played three tournaments in this category (Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and then another tournament) and I’ve performed well in all of them. With this category I don’t have to lose a lot of weight (as against the 60kg category). I find it more suitable for me and I am going to continue in it for the 2016 Rio Olympics too.”
Despite winning two gold medals at the two biggest events this year, Yogeshwar feels there are a few things that he needs to iron out in order to win a medal at the World Championships, a tournament where he has not won any medal.
“For the World Championships, I will keep my practice and wrestling style the same so there won’t be any change in technique or training. There are a few things (that need changing) but I have a niggling issue with my shin and will know more when I get tests done. Also my defence and attacks need to get a little slower than what they are right now,” he signed off.