WFI Appoints Foreign Coaches, High Performance Director to Boost Olympic and Asian Games Push

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has brought back foreign expertise into national camps, appointing three overseas coaches along with a High Performance Director (HPD) as part of a renewed push towards the Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics. The move marks a significant shift in strategy after several years without a full foreign coaching setup.

All four specialists are set to begin their roles from May 1, with WFI aiming to strengthen technical depth, improve planning, and ensure better coordination across wrestling disciplines.

Foreign Coaches Across All Three Styles

WFI has appointed experienced names across all three Olympic styles:

• Emzarios Shako Bentinidis (Georgia) - Freestyle
• Gogi Koguashvili (Russia) - Greco-Roman
• Kosei Akaishi (Japan) - Women's wrestling

Additionally, Ian Butler (USA) has been named the High Performance Director, tasked with overseeing the broader structure and functioning of national camps.

Each of the foreign experts will receive a monthly salary of USD 7000, with their appointments cleared during an online WFI meeting earlier this week.

High Performance Director to Bridge Gaps

The introduction of a High Performance Director is a key element of WFI's new structure. Butler's role will involve working across both men's and women's camps, travelling between centres in Lucknow and Delhi to ensure alignment.

His responsibilities include:

• Coordinating between foreign and Indian coaches
• Monitoring training plans and athlete progress
• Ensuring better communication between camps

WFI believes this centralised oversight will bring more clarity and accountability to training programmes.

Familiar Faces and Proven Pedigree

Among the appointments, Bentinidis is a familiar name in Indian wrestling circles. He has previously worked with Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and is credited with improving the performances of wrestlers like Jitender and Sandeep Mann.

WFI President Sanjay Singh highlighted his past impact, "He worked well with Bajrang... we did not have a better choice. We also considered a coach from Azerbaijan but realised language could be a barrier."

In Greco-Roman, Koguashvili brings a decorated background as a former world champion, Olympic medallist, and Russia's national coach. His appointment is seen as crucial for a category where India has struggled for consistent global success.

Boost for Women's Wrestling with Japanese Expertise

The inclusion of Kosei Akaishi adds strength to India's women's wrestling programme. Coming from Japan - a powerhouse in women's wrestling - Akaishi is expected to bring technical precision and discipline.

WFI confirmed that an interpreter will be arranged through the Japanese embassy to ensure smooth communication during training sessions.

Akaishi was previously working with JSW in Bengaluru and has been recommended by the Japanese federation, adding further credibility to his appointment.

Return of Foreign Coaches After Turbulent Past

This marks the first time since 2019-20 that WFI has appointed a full set of foreign coaches. Previous stints ended under difficult circumstances:

• Iranian coach Hossein Karimi was removed in 2019 amid disputes
• American coach Andrew Cook exited during the pandemic, later formally sacked in 2025
• Georgian coach Temo Kasarashvili was relieved in 2021 after Tokyo Olympic qualification setbacks

Learning from these experiences, WFI is now focusing on better integration between foreign and Indian coaching systems, with the HPD ensuring smoother coordination.

Focus on Asian Games and Beyond

WFI said the push for these appointments was driven in part by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which has urged faster and more structured preparation for upcoming major events.

Sanjay Singh emphasised the urgency behind the decision: "Several wrestlers feel that foreign coaches bring a lot to the table. They can help in bettering technique. We are determined to help grow our wrestlers."

With the Asian Games on the horizon and long-term plans extending to the 2028 Olympics, WFI is banking on this revamped coaching setup to improve medal prospects and elevate India's standing in global wrestling.