Wrestler Inam aims to boost speed ahead of Beach Wrestling World Series

Pakistan’s experienced wrestler and the world’s beach wrestling guru Mohammad Inam is working hard to boost his speed ahead of the Beach Wrestling World Series which will be held from May 31 to June 1 in Porec, a town of Croatia.

“I am working on speed work as you know young wrestlers have more energy and more speed. It’s my main focus now. Experience and skills are already there but if body movement is good then I hope the things will be on the track,” Inam told Nukta in an interview from Gujranwala on Monday.

“Body is responding well. I had developed some injury during the National Games as my bodyweight was too much. But in the last three and a half months I have done a great workout and my weight has also dropped down to 93kg. I am reducing two-to-three-kilogram weight more. Fitness is fine and I am in better shape,” Inam said.

Inam hoped that he has a chance to finish at the podium.

“Yes, there is a chance. You know I play for gold but it’s a reality that competition is too tough. There are six wrestlers in my weight 90 kg who have lifted golds at the world level,” Inam said.

“Fights would be tough as all wrestlers are of great quality and let’s see who wins. But I am confident to do well as I am working hard and am in good rhythm now. I will win gold inshaAllah,” Inam said.

Inam will be accompanied by Greece-based Mohammad Bilal as a coach. Bilal will proceed to Croatia directly to join Inam.

“I have good understanding with Bilal and our association will be fairly good as he is also my childhood friend and we have played together,” said Inam.

Inam will be returning to competitive beach wrestling since last featuring in the 2023 Singapore World Beach Wrestling series where he had finished fourth.

Besides having won two golds in the Commonwealth Games, Gujranwala-born Inam also has a huge reputation in world beach wrestling, having won golds in the 2017 Dalyan and 2018 Sarigerme World Beach Wrestling Championships. He also has to his credit gold in the 2019 Doha World Beach Games. Inam also won gold in the 2016 Danang Asian Beach Games.

Inam is financing his own trip to Croatia.

“Yes, I am myself financing everything and cannot even get something from federation as it also lacks money,” he said.

Emerging wrestlers Gulzar and Nouman Zaka and a few more heavyweight wrestlers are assisting Inam in his workout in Gujranwala.

After featuring in the Croatia event Inam will then proceed to Italy to feature in the Sardinia Beach Wrestling event to be held in Sassari on June 8.

“My main focus is on the global event in Croatia but as I will be in Europe so I will also move to Italy to feature in the Sardinia beach wrestling event,” Inam informed.

Due to excessive heat Inam has changed his training time and now he undergoes his workout in the night time.

However, he says that hot weather is contributing to his aim to reduce to weight which he has drastically reduced.

“But it (hot weather) is a blessing as it helps me to reduce my bodyweight also,” he said.