Indian wrestling’s father-figure coach and mentor to Olympic medallists gets his due — posthumous Padma Shri

“Whenever Sushil, Yogeshwar and my names are said, his name should also be taken. He has a major role in the medals won by India at the Olympics,” Bajrang told The Indian Express on Sunday.

Yogeshwar, who was coached by Mestvirishvili for nearly 15 years, gave him credit for improving the technique of Indian wrestlers. “After he came to India, technical issues were sorted. We had a clear idea about what needs to be done and why it has to be done,” Yogeshwar told this paper, adding, “I believed he should have got the Dronacharya award during his lifetime but I thank the government for recognizing his contribution and giving him the Padma Shri award.”

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Bajrang recalls a hard-working coach whose policy was ‘wrestler first’. “He even used to repair the wrestling mat if that was needed. That is how much he cared for wrestlers. He treated all the wrestlers as if they were family. It didn’t matter if they won a medal or not, just like how a father treated his kids. There are very few coaches who take care of wrestlers once training is over,” Bajrang added.

Vladimir Mestvirishvili came to India as the national team coach in 2003. He went on to spend nearly two decades turning young, untested wrestlers like Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya into Olympic medallists.

When Bajrang and Mestvirishvili stayed in adjoining rooms at the Sports Authority of India’s Bahalgarh centre, the two used to share meals.

“Small things caught his attention. Like when we wore just slippers in winter he would get upset and ask us to wear socks. His technical knowledge was modern and he was up to date. I have travelled abroad with him and have seen the amount of respect wrestlers from European countries gave him,” Bajrang added.

Bajrang has cherished memories of Mestvirishvili. “When he wanted to demonstrate technique to young wrestlers he used to make me his partner. He was very hands on. He really helped me in terms of technique,” Bajrang said.

Yogeshwar remembers Mestvirishvili’s kindness and fairness. “If after training our jersey was wet he would give us his dry jersey to prevent us from catching a chill. In winters, he would give us his track suits. From our diet to training schedules, he took care of everything. He didn’t distinguish between a senior and junior wrestler. All he asked for was dedication,” Yogeshwar recalled.

Mestvirishvili, popularly known as ‘Laado’ among the wrestlers, was appointed national team coach in 2003. He remained in the Indian set-up till 2017, when the Wrestling Federation of India did not renew his contract. Post this he trained wrestlers at the famous Chhatrasal Stadium akhada in Model Town where he also coached Ravi Dahiya, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nihal Koshie is an Associate Editor and sports writer at The Indian Express. He is best known for his in-depth reporting and investigative work that often explores the intersection of sports and social issues. He is also a key member of the sports desk, which is based out of The Indian Express' office in Noida. Professional Background Role: Associate Editor (Sports) at The Indian Express. Key Achievements: He is a two-time winner of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. He won the RNG award for 'Sports Journalism' for 2019 for his exclusive interview and follow up stories with sprinter Dutee Chand, who became the first Indian athlete to say she was in a same-sex relationship. He won his second RNG award in the 'Investigative Reporting' for 2023 for a series of exclusive stories related to sexual harassment charges levelled against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by the country's top women wrestlers. Expertise: While he covers major sports, he is particularly recognized for his extensive reporting on Athletics, investigative stories and long-form news features. Recent Notable Topics & Articles (Late 2025) Nihal Koshie’s recent work reflects a focus on investigative and human-interest stories Recent investigative pieces: He recently wrote a profile of an Indian teenager serving a jail sentence in Kenya after being embroiled in a doping scandal while chasing "Olympic dreams." Wrestling: He continues to track the political and social fallout of the Indian wrestling protests, including the recent public appearances of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the political career of wrestler Vinesh Phogat. Recent long-form features: The story of the rise of Kranti Gaud, the young fast bowler who was a key member of the ICC women's World Cup-winning team; The physics and science behind modern cricket bats Podcast Presence He is a guest and contributor to the "Game Time" podcast by The Indian Express, where he provides technical and social analysis of current sporting events. Experience: 24+ years Previous experience: Times of India (2001-2005), Daily News and Analysis (2005 to 2010) Nihal joined The Indian Express in May, 2010 Social Media X ( formerly Twitter) : @nkoshie You can follow his latest work and full archive on his official author profile. ... Read More

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