‘You Have to Leave Behind Small Things’: Nisha Dahia Moves Past Injury Setbacks, Eyes Asian Games Gold

New Delhi, September 15: For Nisha Dahia, repeated injuries once raised questions about why her promising career kept being interrupted. Ahead of the Asian Games, however, the Indian wrestler says she has learned to accept what is beyond her control and focus entirely on the work required to succeed.

The 68kg wrestler has endured several difficult setbacks at major events, including the 2022 World Championships and the Paris Olympics. Yet, rather than allowing those experiences to dominate her thinking, Nisha now believes that an athlete can control preparation and performance, but not always the final result.

"There was one time when I was in India and suffered a serious injury in my first bout. I had a bone fracture and had to remain on bed rest. I couldn't even eat properly for a week. The injury was so bad that I couldn't do anything on my own. Someone had to help me and even feed me. It was a very difficult phase. I had trained so hard, but I couldn't perform because I was injured. I felt terrible," Nisha told myKhel.

Setback At Paris Olympics 2024

Her most painful setback came at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nisha appeared firmly in control against North Korea's Pak Sol Gum in the quarterfinal, building an 8-1 advantage before a dislocated finger and shoulder injury severely affected her movement. She eventually lost 8-10 and missed out on the medal rounds.

"My body was fine during my time in Paris. I was training well. I had some minor injuries, but that's part of an athlete's life. Injuries come, setbacks happen, and then we move forward and fight again. Injuries happen in everyone's life. Some athletes have more injuries, some have fewer," the Indian wrestler told myKhel. She added with a slight laugh that her journey with injuries had been something of a love-hate relationship.

The disappointment followed another injury-related heartbreak at the 2022 World Championships, where Nisha was leading Linda Morais 4-0 in the bronze-medal bout before an injury relapse forced her out of the contest.

She has since changed her approach, refusing to remain stuck in the disappointment of previous setbacks.

"If you hold on to that thing, you won't be able to move forward. You have to play further. I have to reach Los Angeles, I have to win a medal," Nisha said. "To move forward, you have to leave behind small things."

Alongside that mental shift, Nisha has also worked on expanding her technical game under Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi, who was appointed by the Wrestling Federation of India. The two-time Olympic medallist has particularly influenced her approach to ground wrestling.

Nisha believes Japanese wrestling places greater emphasis on quick execution, clean technique and continuing attacks once a takedown has been secured. Those aspects have given her another dimension to complement her naturally aggressive style.

Golden Opportunity In Asian Games

The Asian Games now present Nisha with a golden opportunity to win the coveted gold medal in the 68kg category on her debut. "I just want the Asian Games to happen soon. I can't wait for it. I think about it a lot," she said.

For Nisha, though, the challenge is less about rewriting the past and more about using what she has learned from it. After years of seeing injuries derail promising campaigns, the Indian wrestler arrives at the Asian Games with a calmer outlook and a clear objective: prepare well, compete fearlessly, and give herself the best possible chance of finally earning the major medal that has so far eluded her.