The compact 2018 calendar, featuring four major events, does not intimidate Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik.
The ace woman wrestler, who is part of the Mumbai Maharathi team in the ongoing third edition of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), feels breaking down a tightly packed calendar is the key to keep off pressure.
“I take one event at a time. For now it’s the PWL, I am totally focused on that. After the league, I will switch to the Asian championship in Kyrgyzstan, then the Commonwealth Games and so on. We go step by step for each event,” Sakshi said in an interaction with Sportstar on Tuesday.
“I want to improve because in wrestling, no matter how much you know, you need to keep improving. I am already training for the Commonwealth Games. I will continue to work on my game and keep learning the tricks which will help me in the coming years.”
Giving an idea about her plans this year, Sakshi said the Asian championship would be her first international event of the calendar. “Prior to the Commonwealth Games, I will participate in the Asian championship. In less than a month we have the Commonwealth Games, followed by the Asian Games… The World championship is also there.”
Asked about her target in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April, Sakshi said, “In the last Commonwealth Games (in Glasgow) I had a silver medal. This time my target is to win a gold medal.”
Sakshi, who has jumped to 62kg after winning her Olympics medal in 58kg, said she would stick around the new weight class for forthcoming events. “Since the Olympic weight categories have changed, I have switched to the 62kg category and will stick to it.”
Even as she refused to look too far ahead, Sakshi said her preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Games would most likely include some overseas training camps. “I will go step by step. We train throughout the year, but before the Olympics we would like to have training camps abroad in two-three different countries. This will help us,” said Sakshi.
Comments
SHARE