New Delhi, June 12: Despite India's flop show in the just concluded 16th Asian Wrestling Championships here last week, the Wrestling Federation of India is confident of reaping a rich harvest in the Commonwealth Championships in Canada next month. "India performed very well in the Commonwealth Games with three gold and three silver and we see no reason why we cannot bag more medals in Canada," Rajinder Gulia, an official of the WFI, said. "The government appointed foreign coach will reach here from Georgia on June 20 while our grapplers have already begun preparation in the camp which started here yesterday," he said.
"They will also attend a week-long camp in Canada," Gulia said.
The official sought to dismiss criticism over mismanagement during the championships saying the issue was blown out of proportion by the media. "FILA (the international body) will not be influenced by the media reports and give us a positive report which will help our country host world championships as well," Gulia said.
He also insisted that the country had actually done well, despite not managing to win a single gold, at the championships. "India, for the first time, won 10 medals in Asian wrestling".
He instead blamed international wrestlers like Palwinder Singh Cheema and Gurbinder Singh for falling short on expectations and depriving India of gold in their own country. Bureau Report