BEIJING - Sher-e-Pakistan Adnan Tyrewala Pehalwan Wednesday said his visit to China is highly helpful for traditional wrestlers as well.
Adnan Tyrewala, 25, who is in China with Pakistan Youth delegation expressed these views while talking to The Nation, said he had won Sher-e-Pakistan title after defeating top wrestler’s in Lahore and also had won many events for Pakistan and claimed that if provided with proper training and international exposure Pakistani wrestlers can produce top class performances and can won laurels at any given stage for the country.
Adna, who competes in +95kg category, hoped that he would be included in Iran-bound wrestlers’ delegation. “Iran is by far the best in traditional wrestling and training and that visit could benefit me a great deal. Pakistan is blessed with immense talent in almost all the sporting fields including wrestling. We have produced world class pehalwans including Rustam-e-Hind Bholo Pehalwan, Zubair alias Jhara Pehalwan and we had ruled the subcontinent for decades and still Pakistani pehalwans are one of the best in the world. We just lack modern day techniques and international exposure. Although the traditional rings are fast disappearing, but in Lahore, Multan and Gujranwala yet this art is still drawing youth interest.”
He said China are working on modern day lines and ensuring their youth future is while the most important thing, which he noted was, they had hired former greats and champions to train the next generation next, which is a great initiative and already producing wonders for Chinese athletes.
He stressed on the need that Pakistan too must work on such major areas including posting right man for the right job, involving past greats.
He said to ensure the traditional wrestling must stay alive, government and IPC Minister Mian RIaz Hussain Pirzada have to step forward and play their due role. “Director Genral Pakistan Sports Board Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera is himself a sportsman and he is the only person, who had done PHD in sports sciences. We are naturally well-built and wresting is in our bloods. There is an urgent need of sending young wrestlers to different countries, where former greats are imparting training to youth.”
Adnan said he had trained in China as well found Chinese wrestlers very good and it would be just a matter of time before Chinese wrestlers will start dominating the wrestling world too.
He also said that coaches must be sent abroad to adapt to modern day training and pass on the knowledge to youth and give more exposure to youth as the more exposure the young athletes would get, more they would deliver.