Ronak's unorthodox method to garner success

WRESTLING was an obvious choice for Ronak Dahiya in his formative years.

- FIROZ MIRZA

His father Jaibir Dahiya was a wrestler who later forayed into coaching and refereeing. While it was no brainer for the son to pursue wrestling, he was not given the liberty to choose a style as Jaibir wanted his son to wrestle in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. Reason both styles complement each other and Greco-Roman wrestling makes one a better freestyle grappler.

After pursuing wrestling in both categories for over a decade, Ronak, who turned 18 on August 19, can now finally pick up a style of his choice. And he most likely capped off his stint in Greco-Roman with a bronze medal in the ongoing U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. Already a silver medallist in the event last year, the result might not be as per his expectations but a podium finish at the Worlds is no mean feat. "I will say a few things didn't go his way but anyway a medal is a medal and I am happy with it," Jaibir told this daily.