Vladimir Mestvirishvili, the Indian wrestling coach who shaped up the careers of two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Puniya, and Ravi Dahiya, passed away on Monday.
Mestvirishvili died of age-related illness, a report in the Indian Express said. He became the Indian national coach in 2003, mentoring young wrestlers and helped them fulfill their Olympic dream.
“Usne hamein ladna sikhaya (he taught us how to fight),” Yogeshwar was quoted as saying by Indian Express. “Today, our standing in world wrestling is respectful because of him. He dedicated his life, at least the last two decades of his life, to Indian wrestling.”
His contract was discontinued after Rio 2016 with the Wrestling Federation Of India disliking his old-fashioned method. Following that, he moved to Delhi and coached the young guns at the iconic Chhatrasal Stadium.
“In 2003, when he came, we didn’t have many facilities. So, he set up most things himself, from mats to ropes,” Yogeshwar says.
“I have seen how hard he worked. When I was drafted to the senior camp in 2012, he used to fix the mats himself if there were gaps. He cut them, adjusted and ensured the quality was good. He’d get ropes to displace them from the ceilings or trees, so that we could climb them to build core strength,” Bajrang says. “We must not forget that while these are all common things now, it wasn’t so 15 years ago. He taught us all of this. A coach will mostly be bothered about conducting training and the rest in his room. But not Laaado.”
Vladimir, however, never got his dues while the Indian coaches walked away with the Dronacharya award.
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