WFI Appoints Foreign Coaches And HPD To Drive India Wrestling For 2026 Asian Games And 2028 Olympics

New Delhi, April 23: The Wrestling Federation of India has hired three foreign coaches and a High-Performance Director. They will guide national wrestlers towards the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics. The foreign experts are expected to take charge next month.

Georgia's Emzarios Bentinidis will coach the men's freestyle squad. Japan's Kosei Akaishi will handle the women's team. Gogi Koguashvili will guide the men's Greco-Roman group. American Ian Butler will serve as High-Performance Director, according to a WFI release on Thursday.

Recent results and long-term targets

India has won at least one Olympic wrestling medal since 2008. At the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the team claimed 17 medals. That tally included two gold and six silver, underlining current strength in the continent.

WFI president Sanjay Singh said, "These appointments mark a significant milestone in Indian wrestling. By bringing in international expertise and establishing a dedicated high-performance leadership structure, we are building a system that supports our athletes at every level. Our goal is not only to win medals but to create a sustainable pathway for long-term excellence."

Profiles of the new coaching team

All four foreign experts have strong records in world wrestling. Bentinidis, also known as Shako, has already worked with top Indian freestyle wrestlers. His return links earlier experience in India with fresh targets for upcoming cycles.

Gogi, a five-time world champion, earlier led Russia's Greco-Roman team. Under him, they secured 62 world championship medals, including 18 gold, between 2006 and 2025. Akaishi worked as the national coach and High-Performance Director with Japan's team.

Under Akaishi, Japan earned four gold and two bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The national team then claimed a record 8 gold, one silver, and two bronze medals at Paris 2024. That track record drew WFI interest.

Training bases and medal goals

The men's freestyle and Greco-Roman coaches will join national camps at SAI's Regional Centre in Lucknow. Akaishi will be based at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi. He will oversee the women's camp and daily training structure there.

The three coaches will work with Butler, who will move between Lucknow and New Delhi. The build-up is for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled in September. WFI wants a clear, data-based programme during this phase.

India has 65 Asian Games wrestling medals overall, including 11 gold. At the last Games in China, the team earned one silver and five bronze. WFI believes the new support staff can help India target double-digit medals in Aichi-Nagoya.