Yogeshwar Dutt says it was not a difficult decision to quit the mat but he did it for his favourite student Bajrang Punia, who he thinks can go on to become India’s first wrestler to win an Olympic gold.

Yogeshwar is only the third Indian wrestler to win an Olympic medal, which was a bronze at the 2012 London Games. KD Jadhav in 1952 and Sushil Kumar, in 2008 and 2012, are the others. In his successful career, Yogeshwar also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2014.

The Haryana wrestler, who is celebrating his 35th birthday on Friday, said he is focused on preparing Bajrang for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s important that Bajrang is prepared and supported for an Olympic medal. He is good but can do much better. I can’t compete in 2020, so it is better, we help Bajrang. He will be a strong medal contender for gold in Tokyo,” Yogeshwar told PTI in Gohana, Sonepat.

“I had a good career. I played four Olympics. In our second line of wrestlers, Bajrang is doing well and can be better. So it’s important to give him that chance and support,” said Yogeshwar, who also competed in the 65kg category, in which Bajrang has emerged as a force.

Also read: How a human ‘GPS’ helped Bajrang Punia win a historic silver at the wrestling world championships and where he can improve.

But was it an easy decision to quit the sport for Yogeshwar?

“If it was not for Bajrang, I would not have quit the mat. I would have competed more and may be could have moved up a category. But I thought, it is a right decision. He is only 24. Since his junior days, he showed spark. I want people of India to see Yogeshwar in Bajrang now. I had a long career and I don’t want that Bajrang gets affected,” Yogeshwar said.

“He has been with me since his childhood. He has always been a very hard working kid and I want him to do better than me.”

It has largely been a satisfying journey for Yogeshwar but not winning a World Championship medal is his only regret.

“I don’t have a World Championship medal and I had thought of competing at Budapest this year. But I thought Bajrang is in good form and, respecting that, I did not come in fray. And he won a silver. I had not played a tournament for long and was not in shape to give my best,” he said.

Yogeshwar said since both he and Bajrang compete in 65kg, there was a possibility of him moving up the weight category.

“I could have tried 70kg but then there would not been many chances, I have never played in 70kg.”

Talking about Bajrang’s final bout at Worlds in Budapest, Yogeshwar said he needs to shore up his defence.

“His defence has got better but this lacking has been there since his childhood. It takes time. We are on it. Losing that final at Worlds was painful. First, he needs to ensure that the opponent does not get hold of his legs. And even if he holds, the defence should be such that you don’t end up losing points from that position,” he said.

Yogeshwar said his personal ambition, apart from Bajrang, is to produce world champions from his academy in Gohana.

(With PTI inputs)