Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala is preparing for her long-awaited Asian Games debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, having moved down a weight category from 62kg to 57kg and overhauled her technical game to match the demands of the new division. The New Delhi-based grappler is focused on giving her best on the biggest stage she has yet faced.

A New Weight, A New Approach

The category shift has prompted Manisha to rework her entire wrestling arsenal. 'I used to play more from the right, but now I have started playing from the left as well. I am trying to work on both stances because I want to be comfortable playing from either side. I am working on my power and technique, but the main thing is also changing my mindset and adapting to the new category,' she said. The emphasis on bilateral technique reflects the higher competitive intensity she anticipates at 57kg.

Excitement and Mental Readiness for the Asiad

Despite having represented India on international platforms before, this marks Manisha's first appearance at the Asian Games — and she is candid about the emotional weight of the occasion. 'I have been representing India for a while, but the Asian Games are special for India. Representing India is a dream for every athlete, so I am a little excited because this is my first Asian Games. My target is just to give my best. Mentally, I am prepared; I am just keeping the pace on things and preparing myself,' she said. The clarity of a single, process-oriented goal — rather than a medal target — speaks to the mental maturity she has developed over the years.

From Fitness Drill to Competitive Wrestler

Manisha's journey to the Asian Games began on an unlikely note. She first stepped onto the mat in 2013, brought to wrestling by her father primarily to improve her fitness levels. What started as a corrective exercise routine gradually revealed a deeper calling. The early years were marked by self-doubt and pressure, but she credits a significant mental turning point from 2021 onwards. 'When I started, I did feel pressure, and I had doubts. But from 2021 onwards, I have become stronger mentally. Even when I get injured and cannot compete, I do have doubts, but I keep practising and keep doing it. Shiddat se kaam karo and dil se chaho toh kaise nahi hoga,' she said — loosely translating to: if you work with intensity and want it from the heart, it will happen.

Role of Coach Akaishi and the Indian Camp Setup

A key figure in Manisha's current preparation is Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi at the Indian Institute of Sports (IIS), whose technical inputs have proved particularly valuable as she adapts to the lighter category. 'I have been working a lot on my technique, especially because I am playing from both stances now. Coach Akaishi has also been helping us and teaching us a lot. The Indian team camps are very useful because we all learn from each other, and when we train together, it brings out the best in us,' she noted. The collective training environment at IIS, she added, has given her comprehensive support — covering supplements, training infrastructure, and overall athlete welfare. 'I have been with IIS for quite a while, and everyone has really supported me. Whatever I have needed has been taken care of, from supplements to training. They have helped me in every aspect, and that support has been very important to me,' she said.

Eyes on Aichi-Nagoya

Philosophical about the challenge ahead, Manisha signed off with characteristic resolve: 'Mushkil toh bohot hota hai, but mehnat karne se sab ho jaata hai. Agar itna aasaan hota toh sab kar lete' — difficulty is always there, but hard work makes everything possible; if it were easy, everyone would do it. With a refined technique, a restructured weight category, and a strengthened mental game, Manisha Bhanwala arrives at her first Asian Games as a credible contender in the 57kg freestyle bracket.