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From grassroots training to Olympic dreams, Damien Jacomelli shares how modern methods are transforming Indian wrestling’s future.
Damien Jacomelli recently was part of a wrestling camp in Sonipat aimed at strengthening grassroots development. (Picture Credit: IG/rfyouthsports)
Indian wrestling has undergone a brilliant transformation over the past decade, evolving from a traditionally rooted system into a more global, science-driven, and performance-oriented ecosystem.
At the centre of this evolution is Damien Jacomelli, a French coach who has been involved with India’s national wrestling setup since 2016. Over the years, he has worked across age groups at the National Training Centre and grassroots level, helping shape a new generation of Indian wrestlers through a more structured, analytical and modern approach to training.
Jacomelli spoke to News18 Sports about his journey in India, the evolution of wrestling in the country and how he integrates sports science, discipline and tactical awareness into athlete development. He also shared insights on India’s growing stature in global wrestling, the challenges athletes face and the long-term potential of the current generation.
Excerpts
When did you get introduced to Indian wrestling?
I began working in India in 2016 as the head of the national team. I also completed the program at the National Training Centre, and we worked with the U-17 category.
You specialise in freestyle techniques. How do you groom wrestlers in those techniques across different weight categories?
I would not say I need to change anything to give them a new technical approach, because India already has a strong tradition in freestyle wrestling. It’s a deeply rooted and successful sport in the country.
My role is more about going a little deeper and perhaps introducing a different perspective to the bout, maybe a more scientific and tactical approach. But I wouldn’t alter their core technical style.
In wrestling, situational awareness is crucial. How do you develop that in athletes?
No, I think Indian athletes at the highest level are already very good. They are capable of winning Olympic medals. There is just one more step they need to take and that can also come from within, maybe through a different mentality, more experience, or greater exposure.
But I would say 90% of them are already on the right path to achieving their goals. They are very close to reaching the Olympic level and becoming medalists.
How can athletes gain that extra exposure and experience?
Maybe at the grassroots level, it would help to have more foreign wrestlers and coaches involved so they can introduce different approaches to freestyle wrestling. Sometimes, if you only train at home and only with people who wrestle like you, it becomes tough to improve your style and adapt to different opponents. That is something we could perhaps change for younger athletes.
For senior wrestlers, it’s more about increased participation in international tournaments and exposure camps. We could also invite foreign wrestlers to India to train as sparring partners.
But overall, Indian athletes are already very close to the top level. They performed very well in the last Olympic Games, so now it is about improving further and aiming for more medals.
How does your training differ for young wrestlers compared to experienced athletes?
I think we need to manage training more carefully because sometimes athletes in India tend to overtrain. The problem is not a lack of hard work; they are very dedicated, but they push themselves so much at a young age that it can lead to burnout or injuries by the time they are around 20.
What we need is a better technical approach at the grassroots level, while developing their physical capacity over time. In India, there is often a strong focus on short-term results because athletes train so much from an early age.
But they need to think about building a long career, not just achieving immediate success.
How do you assess the overall development of Indian wrestling over the past decade?
When I first came to India, the system was more traditional. Now, there is a much more global approach to training. Athletes are also more confident because India has produced so many Olympians and top-level wrestlers like Yogeshwar Dutt, Sushil Kumar, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.
There are many wrestling stars in the nation now. Because of that, younger athletes feel more confident and believe they can achieve the same success. They know it’s possible to become a medalist while training in India; they don’t need to go abroad and stay there to perform at the highest level.
The talent is already there and so is the work ethic. Now it’s about consistency, because in the end, small details can make a big difference.
What was the aim behind the recent camp at SAI Sonipat?
Reliance Foundation is working with the Navy Centre at SAI Sonipat, and they have been very supportive. We organised this camp to support the younger athletes we are working with and to show them what we can offer for their development.
The focus isn’t only on performance on the mat, but also on behaviour and discipline, which are essential to reach the Olympic level. Simple things like being on time, attending physiotherapy sessions and following a strict diet are part of it.
They need to understand that performance isn’t just about training. Training is maybe 50% of their life; the other 50% is how they manage themselves outside the mat.
Through this camp, we are trying to educate them while also strengthening grassroots development, with the aim of helping Indian wrestling continue to grow.
How is Reliance Foundation using sports science in wrestlers’ daily routines?
We are trying to correct certain bad habits and help athletes better understand their own bodies so they can avoid injuries. That is why physiotherapy is very important; they need access to good physios, but also education around recovery, sleep and nutrition.
For example, many athletes follow a vegetarian diet, but even within that, they can still meet their protein requirements. Sports science plays a very important role, but it should be seen as a support tool for athletes.
It helps fill knowledge gaps that may not always be available in their own training environments. We aren’t trying to change their traditional academy systems; that’s their way of life.
Instead, sports science provides key insights that help them develop their abilities more effectively.
How big a miss is it for wrestling not being included in the upcoming Commonwealth Games?
It’s tough to answer because I am not sure what the long-term impact will be. But what I am certain of is that Indian wrestling produces international-level medal contenders.
That has always been the case and now the potential is even greater.
The sport is becoming more popular, with more athletes, more chances and more sponsors. As a result, wrestlers today have a strong environment to succeed. The infrastructure is there and support for wrestling in India is among the best in the world.
It will not be easy for India. There is still a long way to go to achieve Olympic titles. But at the same time, athletes have all the necessary resources. There are no excuses anymore; they have what they need to perform.
Can you talk us through the challenges of changing weight classes?
It’s difficult because when a wrestler cuts weight, it’s because they believe they can perform best in that category. But if they decide to move, they already know there is strong competition in the new weight class as well.
This was seen at the Olympics in categories like 50kg and 53kg. When an athlete competes in the same weight class for five to six years, changing becomes very tough. They become attached to that category.
Later in their career, it becomes even more complicated because the body changes between the ages of 20 and 30, especially for women. You are focused on one category for so long that when you switch, you face different opponents, body types and wrestling styles.
So, it becomes a very difficult decision, especially when the athlete is already performing well.
What are your expectations from this ongoing Olympic cycle for Indian wrestling?
I would say India, especially in women’s wrestling, is now among the top nations in the world. They have already won the U17 and U20 World Team titles this year and also have a strong senior team.
The same progress is visible in freestyle wrestling as well. In that sense, 2028 may come a little too soon for some of these younger athletes; it feels like tomorrow in their careers.
For a 17-year-old, it may still be early, but they will be much better prepared for 2032.
There is new talent coming through every year and at the U17 and U20 levels, India is very close to becoming the number one wrestling country in the world very soon.
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