New Delhi: A gold medal at the Commonwealth Games under her belt, wrestler Vinesh Phogat says she is working hard on her stamina and technique to clinch a second successive one in the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Incheon next month.
"I am aiming for a gold and for that I have been practising very hard," Vinesh told PTI on Friday.
Vinesh, along with her cousin Babita, had started training at the Lucknow SAI centre, just days after returning from Glasgow Games and has no intention of going home even once before leaving for South Korea for the September 19-October 4 event.
"I am not willing to take even a day's break and go to my village before the Asian Games because a 2-3 days break also can negate whatever you have prepared," she explained.
"I have been training hard under the guidance of the coaches at the Lucknow SAI centre and along with the athletes, they are also putting in a lot of effort. I am totally focused for the mega-event next month," Vinesh added.
Hailing from Balali village in Haryana, the 19-year-old, who bagged a gold in Women's 48kg freestyle at the Commonwealth Games last month, said she has been working on the areas where she lacked during the tournament in Scotland.
"I have been working towards enhancing my stamina, which was a problem area at the CWG. Besides, I am also focusing on some of my techniques," she revealed.
Motivated by her cousins Geeta and Babita, Vinesh became the youngest to win a medal in her debut tournament when she won a gold at the CWG.
Third in line among the famous Phogat sisters, Vinesh said that the competition at the Asiad would be no less than that of Olympics.
"The competition there would be of the level of Olympic Games. The wrestlers from China, Mongolia are expected to give a very tough fight. The challenge is going to be enormous, so if I can do well there, it would boost my confidence," Vinesh said.
Vinesh said her eldest cousin Geeta, who herself is not a part of either the FILA World Wrestling Championship or the Asian Games due to a prolonged injury, has been helping both Babita and her in their preparations for the Asiad.
"Although she herself won't be taking part in any of the upcoming tournaments next month, Geeta is there with us in Lucknow and is helping us in our preparations.
"Along with the coaches, Geeta, being an experienced wrestler herself, tells us what all needs to be done and also helps with our techniques," the teenager said.
Vinesh also informed that Geeta, who was the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for London Olympics, will be seen in action only next year at the Senior Asian Championships in April.
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