India, May 31 -- Shako Bentinidis, the Georgian coach who played a pivotal role in Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia's rise, is back as India's freestyle wrestling coach with a mission to mould fresh potential into medal contenders.

Despite having less than four months to help Indian wrestlers win laurels at the Japan Asian Games in September-October, Bentinidis wants them to excel at the Senior World Wrestling Championships at Kazakhstan in October-November and before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"For me, every event before the Olympics holds big importance. I want Indian wrestlers to be in peak form at the Asian Games as well as the World Championships before the LA Games," Bentinidis said on Sunday at the men's Asian Games sel...