NewKerala.com

WFI Appoints Foreign Coaches to Boost Wrestling Medal Hopes at Asiad, Olympics

The Wrestling Federation of India has appointed four foreign experts to elevate the national squad's performance. Emzarios Bentinidis, Gogi Koguashvili, Kosei Akaishi, and Ian Butler will take up key coaching and directorial roles. The appointments aim to help India achieve historic medal tallies at the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics. WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed confidence that the new leadership will create a sustainable pathway for long-term excellence.

Key Points: WFI Appoints Foreign Coaches for Asiad, Olympics

  • WFI appoints three foreign coaches and a High-Performance Director
  • Emzarios Bentinidis (Shako) named men's freestyle coach
  • Gogi Koguashvili to coach men's Greco-Roman
  • Japan's Kosei Akaishi to lead women's wrestling team
  • Goal is to win multiple medals at 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics
3 min read

Shako, Koguashvili and Akaishi picked as coaches, Butler as HPD, as WFI aims to create history at Asiad, Olympics

WFI appoints foreign coaches Shako, Koguashvili, Akaishi, and HPD Butler to target historic medal hauls at 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.

"These appointments mark a significant milestone in Indian wrestling. By bringing in international expertise and establishing a dedicated high-performance leadership structure, we are building a system that supports our athletes at every level. - Sanjay Singh"

New Delhi, April 23

Focused on winning multiple medals at the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics, the Wrestling Federation of India has appointed three foreign coaches and a High-Performance Director to work with the national squad. The foreign experts are expected to assume office next month.

Georgia's Emzarios Bentinidis will be the men's freestyle coach, Japan's Kosei Akaishi will look after the women wrestlers, Gogi Koguashvili will be the coach for men's Greco-Roman, while American Ian Butler will be the High-Performance Director, according to the Wrestling Federation of India release on Thursday.

India has won at least one medal at the Olympic Games since 2008, and the national contingent recently grabbed 17 medals, including two gold and six silver, in the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the WFI said in a release on Thursday.

"These appointments mark a significant milestone in Indian wrestling. By bringing in international expertise and establishing a dedicated high-performance leadership structure, we are building a system that supports our athletes at every level. Our goal is not only to win medals but to create a sustainable pathway for long-term excellence," said WFI President Sanjay Singh.

All four foreign experts come with a pedigree of producing champions. Bentinidis, popularly known as Shako, has already worked with some of the country's top freestyle wrestlers.

Gogi, a five-time world champion, has earlier served as the head coach of Russia's Greco-Roman team, helping them clinch 62 world championships medals, including 18 gold between 2006 and 2025.

Japan's Kosei Akaishi has served as national coach and High-Performance Director with his country's national team, which went on to win four gold and two bronze medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a record 8 gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in Paris 2024.

The men's freestyle and Greco-Roman coaches will join the National Coaching camps currently underway at SAI's Regional Centre in Lucknow, while Akaishi will be stationed in Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, for the women's camp.

The three coaches will work together with Butler, who will be shuttling between Lucknow and New Delhi as the Indian contingent begins its countdown for the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September.

India has so far won a total of 65 medals, including 11 gold, in the history of the Asian Games. In the last edition of the Games held in China, the Indian contingent finished with six medals, including one silver and five bronze, and the WFI is confident that with the appointment of these coaches, India could look to reach double figures in wrestling medals in Japan.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

K
Kavya N
Finally some serious investment in wrestling infrastructure. But we need to ensure our grassroots talent gets equal attention. Foreign coaches at the top are good, but what about state-level akharas? That's where champions are born. No point having great coaches if we can't find the next Sakshi or Bajrang.
R
Rohit P
Shako already knows our wrestlers well. That continuity is key. Gogi Koguashvili is a legend—five-time world champion and he turned Russia into a powerhouse. If we can get even a fraction of that success in Greco-Roman, it'll be huge. India always lags in Greco-Roman. Good time to fix that. 💪
P
Priya S
Exciting times! But I hope WFI also focuses on athlete welfare and mental health support. Coaches are important, but our wrestlers have been through a lot in recent years—protests, federation issues. A stable, supportive environment is equally crucial to perform on the world stage. Just sayin' 🙏
V
Vikram M
Double-digit medals in Asian Games would be historic! Last time we managed only 6 medals from wrestling. With these appointments, the target seems ambitious but achievable. Butler as HPD is interesting—American mindset, data-driven training. Let's hope he adapts to Indian conditions and our wrestlers respond well. Wishing the entire contingent all the best! 🇮🇳
S
Siddharth J
Good appointments, but I wish they had also appointed some Indian coaches alongside them. Our domestic coaches like Jagmander Singh, Virender, or some retired wrestlers have immense knowledge. Having foreigners is fine, but

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50