Padma Shri Honour for Late Wrestling Coach Vladimir Mestvirishvili Brings Tears of Joy to Family in Georgia
In an emotional moment bridging continents, the Indian government's announcement of a posthumous Padma Shri award for legendary wrestling coach Vladimir Mestvirishvili has left his family in Tbilisi, Georgia, overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. The news, delivered on Sunday, sparked an outpouring of emotion from his son Shalva Mestvirishvili, who described the honour as a "proud moment for our whole family."
"Is This Real?": Son's Emotional Reaction to Padma Shri News
When informed of his father's recognition with India's fourth-highest civilian award, Shalva Mestvirishvili's voice choked with emotion over the telephone. "Is it for real what you are telling me? I am speechless, too emotional," he expressed, his words carrying the weight of both grief and celebration. The 35-year-old broke down upon receiving the news, profusely thanking India for continuing to honour his father seven months after his passing.
Shalva revealed a poignant connection between the award announcement and his recent dreams. "Just the other night, my father came in my dreams. He was, as usual, imparting wrestling lessons to his trainees. And today, you are telling us about this big news. It all feels so surreal," he shared. The timing felt prophetic to him, as if his father had whispered, "Son, tomorrow you are going to hear great news about me."
Vladimir Mestvirishvili: The Coach Who Transformed Indian Wrestling
Affectionately known as 'Laado' within Indian wrestling circles, Vladimir Mestvirishvili was a quiet, unassuming figure whose coaching legacy speaks volumes. Spending nearly two decades in India, he played a pivotal role in shaping the country's finest men's freestyle wrestlers, including:
- Double Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar
- Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt
- World Championship medalist Bajrang Punia
- Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya
- World Championship silver medalist Deepak Punia
Arriving in India in 2002, Vladimir brought Soviet-style discipline and technical expertise that fundamentally transformed the country's wrestling ethos. His contributions were instrumental in securing four Olympic medals for India, establishing him as one of the most successful foreign coaches in Indian sports history.
A Historic First for Foreign Coaches
With this posthumous Padma Shri, Vladimir Mestvirishvili achieves the distinction of becoming the first-ever foreign coach to receive a Padma award. This milestone follows Cuban boxing coach Blas Iglesias Fernandez, who became the first foreign coach to receive the Dronacharya award in 2012. The recognition underscores the significant impact international coaches have made on Indian sports development.
The announcement came as the Mestvirishvili family was preparing to spend Sunday on their farmland in wintry Tbilisi, unaware of the historic honour about to be bestowed upon their late patriarch.
Family Memories and Unbreakable Bonds with India
Shalva reflected on his father's deep connection with India, noting that even after returning to Georgia following the COVID-19 outbreak, "not a single day passed when he didn't tell stories about Indian wrestling. India never left him." The bond extended beyond the wrestling mat, with Indian wrestlers like Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Bajrang Punia staying at their Georgian home during training visits and enjoying home-cooked Indian meals.
"I was 12 years old when we first arrived in India at NIS Patiala," Shalva recalled. "I grew up with Indian wrestlers and saw from close quarters how much they respected my father." He revealed that Vladimir had wanted to settle with his family in India near NIS Patiala, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans.
A Legacy That Lives On
Vladimir Mestvirishvili passed away on June 23 last year at age 81 in Tbilisi due to age-related illness, but his legacy continues to inspire. Before coming to India, he coached the Georgian national team for ten years, producing multiple European, Olympic, and World champions. In India, he served as men's freestyle coach until 2017, after which Sushil Kumar brought him back to coach at Chhatrasal Stadium, where he worked with Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia during their formative years, and also coached Divya Kakran.
"Maybe he has left us, but his presence can still be felt," Shalva reflected. "Physically he is not around, but his heart and soul are there in India. He left them there, even though he had returned to Georgia."
The family's emotional response underscores the profound impact of this recognition. Shalva's mother, Mareya, was reportedly sitting on a couch, unable to speak, simply crying while remembering her husband and their time in India. "This is one of the happiest news I have heard in a long time," Shalva concluded. "Thank you India for showering all your love and affection on my father even after his death. Up there, he would be smiling and thanking Indian wrestling."
The Padma Shri award to Vladimir Mestvirishvili stands as a testament to his extraordinary contribution to Indian wrestling, a legacy that continues to inspire athletes and coaches alike, bridging nations through the universal language of sport.
