Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 11: In an unprecedented move, Jammu-based motivator Vickrant Mahajan was appointed by the Wrestling Federation of India as the Indian Senior Wrestling team’s motivator for the 2019 World Wrestling Championship to be held in Nursultan, Kazakhstan, from September 14 to 22, 2019. This is the first time ever in India’s sporting history that a motivator will be accompanying a national team for a world championship in any sport.
As part of his assignment, Vickrant will be motivating all the Indian wrestlers, coaches and support staff throughout the championship.
The star-studded Indian wrestling contingent comprises two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, World No 1 65 kg freestyler Bajrang Punia, 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sumit Malik and 2019 junior world champion Deepak Punia, among many other stalwarts.
Talking of his appointment, Vickrant said, “India hasn’t won any gold medal at the world wrestling championship for the past nine years. My goal is to enable India win multiple gold medals this time and make it India’s best world championship ever.”
About his Olympic program, Vickrant said, “India was ranked 67th at the 2016 Rio Olympics and hasn’t won any Olympic gold medal for the past ten years. My goal is to make India win 6+ gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and get India in the top 15 at the medals table next year. I intend to inspire the best in India to become the very best in the world, and through their victory and excellence, positively impact our country’s image globally.”
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