1. First of all, How did you start wrestling?I started wrestling from my childhood days. I used to go to the akhaara with my elder brother every day. Later he left wrestling but I continued. It was my father’s wish that one of the sons become a wrestler.
2. How does it feel to be the highest paid Indian Player at such a young age?It is Aa great feeling. I am happy about the fact that team owners recognise my efforts and have put so much trust into me.AI will definitely continue my practice & prove myself.
3. What are you goals at the PWL with the Delhi team?
There is only one goal and that is to win. We have a strong team with Sakshi, Satyavart, Mariya Stadnik and others and am sure we will perform well in the league.
4. How do you think has PWL helped wrestling in India?
It has helped a lot. For us, its a huge platform in our win country to test our skills with world champions and olympians from across the world. This league helps us to overcome the fear of facing them right at the international stage. Plus its an advantage for the upcoming wrestlers to be with stars and share the same platform. We all get to learn so many new things from these wrestlers. I am looking forward for the second season to begin.
5. What are your targets for the next one year?
I have just one target set which is to get my country a medal at Tokyo olympics. My preparations are on for it and as of now am preparing for PWL>
6 . Wrestling has been a sport that has been reaping us a lot of medals, how can we increase our medal counts across not just Olympics but other events too?
I think wrestling as a sport has been doing quite well in other championships as well. We have won medals in Commonwealth championships, then Nationals is a very good platform to test our skills. Our wrestlers are doing quite well. The federation support is immense and hence, I believe more and more participation can only help increase the medal count.
Also, the only way to urge youngsters to join wrestling is to promote the sport in the right way. PWL does it as it is shown on television which helps people see what the sport is all about and how much calibre it has.
7. Yogeshwar Dutt, has opted out of the PWL, do you think that will affect the league?
His presence will surely be missed as he was the much talked about wrestler in season 1 and he performed really well. But commitments to personal life are also equally importantAas marriage is an important milestone in an individualas life. But he has told me that he will come to support me for whatever matches he can.AHe will not be participating but he will be present to boost my morale during my bouts.
9. What is your message for players who are gearing to have a career in wrestling ?
I will urge more and more youngsters to come up and train as wrestling is the oldest sport of our country and it will be good to see the country winning laurels in wrestling. That can only happen when more and more participation happens. It is a fantastic sport that requires a lot of dedication and hard work.
10. Your thoughts on Dangal, essentially an all-an-all wrestling film?
It is a great feeling to see how bollywood has got inspired by wrestling and created a movie on the same. Phogat family has given so much to the sport and am happy that someone recognised it. A
