Wrestling is in the blood for Commonwealth Games medallist Chinu and he is hoping to bring more pride to his family when he takes to the mat at the inaugural European Games in Baku.

The 28-year-old moved to England from India when he was 14 but had been wrestling long before arriving in Europe.

India is a country with a rich wrestling heritage and Chinu took up the mantle left by his father and grandfather who both competed in the sport.

His achievements have gone far beyond what he ever expected however after he defeated Claude Mbianga, Zaman Anwar and Hollis Mkanga on his way to bronze at Glasgow 2014.

Now he turns his attentions to Baku and, while he knows the competition in Azerbaijan will be fierce, he will be doing everything in his power to add another chapter to his family’s wrestling history.

“I am going to go there and try and do the best that I can and then see what happens. I don’t know if I will be able to get a medal or not but it would be incredible,” he said. 

“My father and grandfather both wrestled in India so it was natural for me to take up the sport.

“It runs in the family so hopefully I can do them proud in Baku and do my best for my country.

“I am so excited to be going to Baku and I think it is a huge honour to be the only male representing my country.

“I need to make sure I do everyone proud, it means so much to me and it can be huge because it is something that can lead to more paths.”

For Chinu 2015 holds plenty of challenges with the World and British Championships still on the horizon.

But he says that Glasgow has changed his outlook on wrestling and thinks he is ready for any obstacle that lies ahead.

“Training is going really well and I haven’t really changed too much, I have just tried to keep the same level of intensity,” he added.

“I have been much more positive since Glasgow and I think it helped me a lot and has made me a better athlete.

“I’ve just got back from a training camp in the Ukraine which was really beneficial because that part of the world is probably the best for wrestling.

“The big goal for me is the World Championships in September but we also have the British Championships to come so there is a lot to aim for.”

© Sportsbeat 2015