Indian Wrestling Hires Four Foreign Coaches Ahead of Asian Games 2026 & Olympics 2028

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India’s wrestling programme has taken a major step forward by appointing four foreign coaches to strengthen preparations for the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Wrestling Federation of India has brought in experienced international experts across all three wrestling disciplines to improve training standards and ensure better coordination at national camps.

Coaching appointments across disciplines

Georgian coach Emzarios Shako Bentinidis, who previously worked closely with Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, has been assigned to the freestyle team. Russian legend Gogi Koguashvili, a former Olympic medallist and five-time world champion, will take charge of Greco-Roman wrestling.

For the women’s team, Japan’s Kosei Akaishi, a two-time Olympic medallist, has been appointed as head coach. Meanwhile, USA’s Ian Butler will serve as the high-performance director, overseeing overall training structure and performance planning.

Shift towards centralized training

The decision to hire foreign coaches also aims to bring top Indian wrestlers back into national training camps. In recent years, many elite athletes preferred overseas training—freestyle wrestlers often trained in Dagestan, Russia, while women wrestlers frequently trained in Japan.

The new system is expected to reduce dependence on individual foreign training setups. Coaches will now closely monitor athletes’ progress, manage training plans, and track injury updates directly within the national camp environment.

Decision after discussions with SAI

The appointments were finalised after discussions between the wrestling federation and the Sports Authority of India. The coaches will receive a monthly salary of around $7,000.

This marks a strategic shift from the earlier approach that relied mainly on Indian coaches after the Tokyo Olympics. Previously, foreign coaches were also appointed before Tokyo 2020, but their tenures ended with mixed outcomes.

Experience of Bentinidis

Bentinidis has had notable success working individually with Bajrang Punia, helping him win major international medals including an Asian Games gold and an Olympic bronze. Despite earlier differences with the federation, he is now expected to lead the freestyle programme in a renewed partnership.

Coordination and communication support

To address language barriers, a translator will be appointed for the Japanese coach. Additionally, HPD Ian Butler is expected to coordinate between all coaches to ensure smooth communication and unified training plans.

Bentinidis is likely to join the team first, with the remaining coaches expected to arrive soon after.

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