Overcoming personal tragedy, Vinod guns for Olympic glory

Vinod has continued to train for Olympic despite his mother passing away in India.

Source: Facebook

Just a month after he qualified to represent Australia in the Rio Olympics, Vinod Kumar Dahiya lost his mother.

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Vinod had told SBS Punjabi that if he wins a medal at Rio games, he would like to share the news with his mother first. But, on April 27, Vinod was told that his mother died due to a heart-attack.

A personal tragedy such as this could break anyone down. But, Vinod’s determination to achieve his goal is such that he overcame personal grief and continued training even during the mourning period.

Source: Facebook

“I can’t change what has happened, but I can do what I am determined to do. Even on the day I received the news of my mother’s death, I did not miss my training, though I was grieving inside,” said Vinod.

Source: Facebook

Vinod is still in India due to the last rites of his mother. He has met with ace Indian wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt and also had some tips from Mahabali Satpal, the Padma Shri awardee wrestling coach.

Vinod says he will be back in Melbourne in the next few days and begin training here. He is also raising funds to be able to train under a foreign coach.

“There isn’t much money in wrestling in Australia, and I don’t have any sponsors. So, I am raising some funds so that I am able to go to a country where there are better facilities for wrestlers,” said Vinod.

Vinod works as a bouncer during the night and trains with his wrestling team during the day. He has booked an Olympic berth in 66-kg Greco-Roman wrestling.