New Coach Shako Unveils Asian Games Blueprint as India’s Wrestlers Begin Road to Aichi-Nagoya

India's preparations for the 2026 Asian Games have entered a new phase following the appointment of Emzarios Bentinidis, popularly known as "Shako", as the national wrestling head coach.

With the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) having finalized its men's and women's squads through a series of high-intensity selection trials, Shako has already begun implementing what he describes as a highly individualized approach aimed at maximizing India's medal prospects in Aichi-Nagoya.

Speaking after closely monitoring the men's trials at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Lucknow, the experienced coach made it clear that the traditional one-size-fits-all training model would not be the foundation of India's Asian Games campaign.

Instead, every wrestler will receive a tailored development plan based on their strengths, weaknesses and competition requirements.

At the heart of Shako's vision is personalization. The new head coach believes that elite wrestling success can only be achieved when athletes are trained according to their specific needs rather than following a uniform system. "Every wrestler is different and requires a different approach. There is no single formula for success," Shako explained.

His philosophy focuses on identifying areas where each wrestler can improve most effectively. For some athletes, that may involve refining technical execution. For others, the priority could be physical conditioning, tactical decision-making or match management.

The coach emphasized that his immediate focus will be spending time with athletes individually, understanding their requirements and creating roadmaps designed to help them peak at the right time. With the Asian Games less than a year away, timing will be critical.

The objective is not simply to perform well during training camps but to ensure that wrestlers reach their highest level when medals are on the line in Japan.

India's freestyle team will be spearheaded by two of the country's biggest stars. Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat once again demonstrated why he is considered one of India's brightest wrestling talents by dominating the 57kg category during the selection trials. The Paris Olympic medallist cruised to an 11-1 victory in the final, securing his berth with authority.

Joining him is World No. 1 Sujeet Kalkal, who booked his place in the 65kg category after a composed 2-0 victory over Vishal Kaliramana. As the top-ranked wrestler in the world in his weight category, Sujeet will enter the Asian Games carrying significant expectations. The freestyle contingent also includes experienced campaigner Deepak Punia, who successfully secured the 97kg spot.

The former Asian Games silver medallist has been one of India's most reliable wrestlers over the past decade and brings invaluable experience to the squad. Sagar Jaglan (74kg), Mukul Dahiya (86kg) and Rajat Ruhal (125kg) complete a balanced freestyle lineup that combines youth and experience.

Indian Greco-Roman wrestling has shown encouraging progress over the past two years, and Shako will hope that momentum continues into the Asian Games. The squad will be led by Sunil Kumar, one of India's most accomplished Greco-Roman wrestlers. The 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist secured his place in the 87kg category after a clinical 3-1 victory over Rohit Bura during the trials.

Sunil enters the Games as India's leading medal prospect in the discipline following a string of strong performances at recent Asian Championships.

Supporting him are Sumit Dalal (60kg), Deepak (67kg), Aman (77kg), Nitesh Kumar (97kg) and Deepanshu (130kg). The group represents one of India's strongest Greco-Roman squads in recent years and will be aiming to build on the progress achieved at continental events.

The women's team also appears capable of challenging for multiple medals. Leading the squad is two-time World Championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal, who secured her place in the 53kg category. Despite still being in the early stages of her senior career, Antim has already established herself among the world's leading wrestlers and will be one of India's biggest medal hopes in Japan.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/aman-sehrawat-sujeet-kalkal-and-deepak-punia-lead-india-s-wrestling-squad-for-asian-games-2026

Joining her is Nisha Dahiya, whose performances over recent seasons have consistently placed her among the country's top wrestlers. The squad also features Mansi Ahlawat (62kg), Manisha Bhanwala (57kg), Dipanshi (50kg) and Priya Malik (72kg). Together, they form a women's team with considerable international experience and proven success at age-group and senior levels.

India enters the 2026 Asian Games with a proud wrestling tradition. The country has won 65 wrestling medals in Asian Games history, making the sport one of India's most successful disciplines at the continental event. The challenge now is to improve upon that legacy.

Shako's appointment signals a desire to adopt a more professional and athlete-focused approach, one designed to maximize individual performance rather than relying solely on collective training methods. The coach believes that combining personalized wwith India's existing talent base can produce strong results.

With stars such as Aman Sehrawat, Sujeet Kalkal, Deepak Punia, Sunil Kumar and Antim Panghal leading the charge, India possesses a squad capable of challenging for medals across multiple categories.

The selection trials may be over, but the real work has only just begun. As the road to Aichi-Nagoya gathers momentum, Shako's masterplan will now be put into action in pursuit of Asian Games glory.