The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have finalised four coaches, including high performance director Ian Butler from the USA, to train the country’s elite wrestlers in the run-up to this year’s Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.

The other three coaches are Shako Bentinidis, Gogi Koguashvili and Kosei Akaishi. They are expected to sign their contracts next week.

Hailing from Georgia, Bentinidis, a three-time Olympian and a former European champion, is well known as Worlds and Olympics medallist Bajrang Punia’s personal coach. Under Bentinidis’ guidance, Bajrang bagged two Worlds medals, Tokyo Olympics bronze and Asian Games gold. Bentinidis, who has also coached international athletes to Worlds and European medals, will work with India’s freestyle wrestlers.

Koguashvili, a five-time World championships medallist and a 1992 Olympics bronze medallist, has worked as the head coach of Russia’s national team and led it to 62 World Championships medals and 15 Olympic medals, including those by Olympic champions Roman Vlasov and Nazir Mankiev. The Russian will serve as the Greco-Roman coach in India.

Akaishi is a two-time Olympic medallist (1984 and 1992). He has coached wrestlers from his own country, Japan, and Afghanistan. He worked at top positions in Japan’s high performance department during the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. In his coaching career spanning more than 25 years, Akaishi has guided several athletes, such as Kyoko Hamaguchi and Yukako Kawai, to Olympic medals. He will coach the women.

Butler is a professional fighter and world level grappler. Competing across global combat sports platforms, he has secured multiple medals. The founder and owner of Silverback Wrestling Club, Butler has worked with the USA and Canada teams. He will coordinate between Indian and foreign coaches, monitor training plans and athletes’ progress, ensure good communication across camps and ensure accountability for better performance.

Published on Apr 23, 2026