“Gotta Love The Moment. Gotta Love The Sport,” Says Arjan Bhullar
“It was good to get some momentum and some wins heading into London,” – Commonwealth Gold Medal and Canadian national champion Arjan Bhullar said “I am feeling real good and ready to go.”
By R. Paul Dhillon
RICHMOND – Commonwealth Gold Medal and Canadian national champion Arjan Bhullar won a Gold at the German Grand Prix, a tune-up event Bhullar took part in ahead of his Olympic debut in London early next month.
Bhullar, who is currently training in Guelph, Ontario, was the lone Canadian to compete at the tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany last weekend.
“I had no coaches or team mates, no one,” an excited Bhullar said in an email. ” I weighed myself in and competed without anyone in my corner.”
Bhullar was also elated by the fan response he got from predominantly German fans in attendance.
“Have to say, the German fans were awesome! I dunno if they really like their heavyweights or what the deal was, but I was being cheered on throughout the day (especially by a section filled with senior citizens and kids) even while competing against Germans. I was asked over and over where the rest of my team was and kept telling everyone the rest of the guys were defending our Canada Cup back home. I think it was the fact that I was the lone soldier out here, with no coach or corner men and had to towel myself off between periods and all that….either way, big shout out to the Germans for all their love,” Bhullar said.
There were 26 countries competing at the event, with two competitors from Romania and Ukraine, which was a good test for Bhullar as he is bound to face such high calibre wrestlers in London.
Bhullar had a bye in first round before he beat a wrestler from Poland and then Germany. And then another German, who beat out the Romanian, Ukrainian and another top German wrestler.
“It was good to get some momentum and some wins heading into London,” Bhullar said “I am feeling real good and ready to go.”
“I feel good winning in Germany. Wrestled a lot more like myself compared to the last tourney. It´s always good to get some wins and some momentum heading into a big tournament, so this will definitely help heading into London.,” he said
“Gotta keep it real though….this is the German Grand Prix and not the Olympic Games, so I have to look at putting together a day like this (and then some) come August 11th. Still got work to do, never fully satisfied. Got one month to get it done.”
He is currently at a training camp in Guelph, Ontario with the best wrestlers from across Canada and the Cuban Olympic team.
“Aside from the wrestling, the thing I can look at and be slightly proud of is the way this trip went. I had every reason to not perform and not win. Being out here by myself was very uncomfortable and not fun at all. I was kind a starting to get crazy, not used to being alone….then in the final match of the day all eyes were on me and the local boy. Not only was it pressure packed, but I also had to beat the refs. But we are trained by the best, and trained to perform at our best when we are most uncomfortable and when the situation is most pressure packed. That is when champions thrive. That is why champs have swagger; not any normal person can thrive under those circumstances time and time again. Most people crack, or pack it in before the battle even begins. Wrestlers, real wrestlers, are trained to perform under the most intense conditions and come out one top.
“Gotta love the moment. Gotta love the sport.”
