We can get 4-5 medals at Asiad: Yogeshwar

Yogeshwar Dutt

New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS)

Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt said on Thursday that Indian wrestlers have it in them to win four-to-five medals, including gold, at the upcoming Asian Games.

"We did well at the Commonwealth Games. We are working hard and hopefully will do better in the Asian Games. We can win four-to-five medals including the gold. I hope the practice we have put in bears fruit," said Yogeshwar, who won a freestyle bronze at the 2006 Doha Asiad.

The 31-year-old said that the Asiad is a much tougher event than Commonwealth Games, where he has won two golds.

"In Commonwealth Games you mostly have wrestlers from Canada, Nigeria and England but the Asian Games are much tougher with wrestlers coming in from Iran, Japan and Korea. If you do well at Asiad, it gives you the confidence to do well at World Championships and the Olympics," said the grappler.

Yogeshwar, who came into the limelight when he won the bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, will be skipping the World Championships to participate in the Asian Games.

"Only if we focus on one event can we do better. There is only a 10-day gap between the worlds and Asiad. The continental event comes once every four years and it is really important for India. I would have competed at worlds had it been after the Asian Games," said Yogeshwar, who clinched the Asian Championships gold in 2012.