CHENNAI: THE Asian Games is just over eight months away. For India’s Wushu stars, their homework for the event has already begun.
After a national camp in Bhopal which began on November 20, they will get a demo of the challenges in store when they travel to China for the first Asian Wushu Cup (Dec 13-17) to participate in the Sanda category. The event will mark the 30th anniversary of the Wushu Federation of Asia.
A 10-member team will depart for Guangzhou on Tuesday, along with two coaches and one support staff. After a creditable return (one gold and four bronze) during the World Wushu Championships, coach Rajvir Singh said that it would be unrealistic to expect too much.
“We are hopeful of a medal from everyone, but they didn’t get much time during the camp. Also, they just came back from their recovery period (after the Worlds). Let’s see how it goes,” he told Express from Bhopal. “But there are two, three experienced players who have to ability to win gold.”
More than medals, the lot’s biggest gain will be experience. “We will get to know where we stand. During the Worlds, the athletes were at peak level. Maintaining that after one month or so will be tough. The main thing is that they will get to compete against the best in Asia,” the coach, who has been with the team since 2007, noted.Pooja Kadian had etched her name in the history books at the Worlds — held in October — by becoming the first Indian to clinch gold at the event.
But, in order to make the cut for the upcoming test, she cut down her weight: a massive drop from 75kg category to 65kg. That is mainly because the Asiad offers only two options for women: 52 kg and 60kg. Kadian plans to shed more in the months to come to be eligible for the latter.“It’s been a month since I have been eating boiled food without any spices at all. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing. I don’t feel like talking to anyone. But I have to maintain my sanity,” Kadian, who was into taekwondo before she took up wushu, revealed.
Food might be ordinary for her, but Kadian’s achievement during the Worlds was exceptional; a feat which has given her the impetus to rise above the ordinary. “Until 2015, I used to be bogged down by pressure. I used to worry a lot before the fight. Now, I’m aware that it is not impossible. It is just in the mind. If I put my mind to winning gold, I really feel that I can do it,” she said.
Another star who is not short of motivation is Y Sanathoi Devi (52kg). With experience of over a decade, the 28-year-old from Manipur has won plenty of medals, including bronze in the 2014 Asian Games. “If we do well in China, we will get more backing in the build-up to the Asian Games. My only target is gold,” the Arjuna awardee said.
Team: Y Sanathoi Devi (52 kg), K Anupama Devi (60 kg), Pooja Kadian (65 kg), Vishakha Malik (70 kg), Praveen Kumar (48 kg), Uchit Sharma (52 kg), L Budhachandra Singh (56 kg), Mukesh Choudhary (70 kg), Rajani Deori (75 kg), Rajinder Singh (90 kg).
Note: This team had won four silver and five bronze medals in the Asian Wushu Championship last year, thereby qualifying for this Asia Cup. Mukesh got a wild card.
anmol@newindianexpress.com