Ecstatic to be named for the Padma Bhushan award, India’s most decorated wrestling coach Satpal Singh says the honour has motivated him to work harder and his aim now is to improve the country’s medal tally in wrestling in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Satpal, who was yesterday named for India’s third highest civilian award, said he was preparing his pupils for at 3-4 medals in next year’s quadrennial extravaganza.

“I am deeply honoured to be named for this award and it gives me an added motivation to work harder on my students, along with my team so that the Indian wrestlers can improve their medal’s tally at the Rio Olympics,” Satpal told PTI during an interview. “I am looking at at least 3-4 medals for my wrestlers in 2016,” he added.

India bagged two medals in wrestling out of an overall tally of six at the 2012 London Olympics with Sushil Kumar winning a silver in men’s 66kg freestyle wrestling and Yogeshwar Dutt finishing with a bronze in 60kg category.

Associated with producing top wrestlers in the country, the 59-year-old wrestling coach, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1983, said he was confident that one of his students would finish with at least a gold medal in Rio.

“I am sure one of our wrestlers can bag a gold medal in Rio,” Satpal, who became the first wrestler to be named for Padma Bhushan, said.

Conferred with the title of ‘Mahabali’ during his playing days, Satpal said while he was expecting nothing less than a gold medal from Sushil, he would want the likes of Amit Kumar and Bajrang, besides Yogeshwar, also to make it to the podium in Rio.

comment COMMENT NOW