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Back to back medals in two consecutive Olympics and double delight at the London extravaganza has certainly helped wrestling regain the popularity it once enjoyed in the country. Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt have become the new poster boys of Indian sports but it is still too early to say that it will change the entire scenario for this sport.
For this, the government faces a bigger challenge of diverting youth from mud akharas to mat wrestling. Since, mud wrestling is popular in India, especially the North, because of the excitement it offers to the viewers and big bucks at stake; it will be a difficult task to convince these youth to step on the mat and sweat it out for winning medals for India. Since, the rewards for these wrestlers run into lakhs, the youth opt for this style of wrestling rather than taking up mat wrestling and then struggling to find jobs to sustain their families. However, India has been lucky that there are few coaches like Mahabali Satpal, who have groomed their wards with the sole aim of winning an Olympic medal for the country. Years of hard work, clubbed with the futuristic vision of their coaches, have brought Sushil and Yogeshwar where they are today and their victory has definitely opened new horizons for hundreds of wrestlers, still struggling in the mud to earn their livelihood. What remains to be seen is whether the state governments will be able to attract more talent and nurture them to take India ahead in terms of international medals. However, irrespective of what Indian wrestlers’ medal count was at various Olympics, our wrestlers have always been one of the most acknowledged lot in the world. Though not many Indian wrestlers competed in the Olympic Games in pre-Independence years, there was no dearth of professional wrestlers. People like Gama pehalwan, Kareem Baksh Pilrehwala, Gulam Baksh, Kalhi, Imaam Baksh, Kikar Singh, Biddo were professional wrestlers who used to play for money. Many of them even defeated world champions during various international tournaments and became India's heartthrob. But since none of them competed at Olympics; their names don't find a mention in our history books. Had these wrestlers got India some Olympic medals during that period, it would have certainly shaped the game in a different way. Sample this, Karim Baksh Pilrehwala defeated world champion Tom Canon in 1892 in Kolkata. Then seven years later, Moti Lal Nehru took three Indian wrestlers to Turkey in 1899 where Gulam defeated world champion Kadar Ali and in 1910, Gama pehalwan won the John Bull World Wrestling Championship at England. However, the game has come a long way ever since, and the experts feel that if the players get the support of qualified coaches and Central and state governments, they have the calibre to figure amongst the top wrestlers of the world. Mahabali Satpal Singh, coach of two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, agrees and says India has always produced great wrestlers but they were not much recognised. Now things have changed with Sushil’s bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Talent was always there but the system was faulty. Indian players didn’t even have mats to play on. There was no foreign exposure due to which it was difficult for the Indian players to get a hang of things at international meets but still they managed to win medals. Now, that the Sports Ministry is making all efforts to provide best facilities to players, including proper training, diet and cash incentives, the sportspersons have started yielding results,” he adds. Calling Sushil’s medal a blessing for wrestling, Satpal says every game needs one superhero who takes it to an all-time high, and Sushil has done that for wrestling. He has proved to the world that Indian wrestlers can win medals at Olympics. His second medal at London has been an icing on the cake. Yogeshwar, too, emerged really strong to literally grab the victory. Now, convinced with their performance, the government listens to demands being put forward by players and their coaches, which is the beginning of a new sports era,” adds the Dronacharya awardee coach. But, he maintains, that the command should be in the hands of experienced and qualified persons. He says the government should identify talented coaches and give them ample opportunities so that they could turn their dreams into realities by producing more Olympics medalists. Narrating his journey as a coach, Satpal said despite representing India in 40 international tournaments and winning medals in Asian Games, he could not get an Olympic medal. “So I had decided that one day my students will win a Olympic medal and since that day, I have done everything practically possible to train my players. Coaching is a 24-hour job and keeping that in mind, we drafted training programme for our players. We were their friends, family and coaches. Right from their training to taking care of their diet, we look after everything and only when you give in your best that is when your players start trusting you. My students have made me proud and I am hoping for many medals in future. We have recently opened six new akharas in Delhi and with this the count has reached eight. So, one can actually gauge the popularity of the game now,” adds the coach. Seconding his opinion, former coach of the Indian wrestling squad, PR Sondhi, says the Central government is making all efforts to groom the players. But state governments should also realise their responsibility. “Take, for example, Haryana. It has formulated a comprehensive sports policy, and also has implemented it in totality which has made Haryana the best sporting state in the country. On the other hand, though the Punjab government has drafted a policy but it is on papers only. Though the government promises cash awards, it is for the highest level and there is no order in place at the grassroots level. International medallists have been waiting for jobs since years and the national medal winners are yet to receive cash incentives for last many years. How, can you expect medals them to win medals?” he adds. However, expressing delight over the recent performances at Olympics and the world wrestling championship in which the sister duo of Geeta and Babita won bronze medals, Sondhi feels that their performances will certainly help wrestling grow. “The Central government is now providing every possible help to India campers and I hope that one day wrestling will rule the hearts of all Indian fans,” prays Sondhi. Experts feel that if the players get the support of qualified coaches and Central and state governments, they have the calibre to figure amongst the top wrestlers of the world IN a chat with Gagan K. Teja, wrestler Sushil Kumar recounts his journey from an ordinary man to two-time Olympic medal winner
Having become the first Indian to win two medals for India at Olympics, how does it feel? It feels really great. Ever since I started wrestling, the only thing on my mind was to win a medal at Olympics and thanks to my coach, family members and friends that I have been able to realise this dream. Though I would have been happier if it was gold this time but that certainly does not mean I am disappointed. I gave my best shot and rest god has been kind. How has been your journey from ordinary man to the two-time Olympic medal winner? It hasn’t been easy at all. I have religiously followed the training schedule drafted by my coach Mahabali Satpal Singh for years and have been literally cut out from the outside world. But I am glad that I have been successful in achieving this goal. It is dedicated to my coach who has always been my biggest inspiration. Since you and Yogeshwar Dutt have set the stage rolling for Indian wrestlers, what do you expect in the near future? The future of Indian wrestling is very bright. Young kids all over India are hitting akharas with a dream of winning an Olympic medal. It’s a great start and I am sure that with the kind of facilities available these days, they will go a long way. For the past few years, the Indian sports ministry has been making efforts to ensure that more and more players make it to the international stage and make India proud. Sports minister Ajay Maken is totally committed towards the uplift of Indian sports and with this committed approach, nothing can keep us down. Indian players have not been able to match up with China and USA as far as sports performance at Olympics is concerned. Why? Everything takes time. It's not that China has always been on top at Olympics. They were struggling hard to win medals and that's when they came up with a new sports policy and worked on it rigorously to reach where they are today. Now that India too has set up a proper system, the days are not far that our medals will start multiplying. We won three medals at 2008 Beijing Olympics and its six medals at 2012 London Games. This in itself is an indication that sports scenario is changing fast and for good. Though each and every Olympic medal is special for India but one medal that will certainly remain in the memories of Indian sports lovers forever will be Yogeshwar Dutt's bronze medal at the London Olympics, a true representation of determination that enabled him to defy all odds and fulfil his dream.
Finally, you have achieved what you have been waiting for — an Olympic medal, that too in the repechage? My joy knows no bounds, especially after what I have been through all these years. Though this is one thing I have been waiting for ever since I began, my dream has always eluded me but I am glad that I have been able to make it. After I lost to the Russian wrestler, I was very disheartened. But I got another opportunity in the form of repechage. It was a do-or-die situation and I had no option but to drub every player that comes my way. I am glad that I could hold my nerves and emerge victorious. Having suffered a career-threatening injury in Beijing Olympics, how did you manage to make a comeback? My coaches had high expectations from me before the Beijing Olympics. But unfortunately I could not win a medal. This continued to bother me. Then, after the injury, the doctors were not even sure whether I would be even able to walk properly for the rest of my life. But how could I give up when my deepest desire was still unfulfilled? I am thankful to my coaches; family and the Mittal Champion Trust which helped me. What message do you want to give to budding players? All I can say is we should chase our dreams till we achieve them because nothing hurts more than unfilled dreams. Moreover, I request the players to refrain from using any kind of performance-enhancing drugs for as it might ruin their careers. Eat right, stay healthy and make the country proud. — GT
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When
compared to the top sporting nations of the world like USA and China,
Indian sports is just evolving and the Central government will have to
go a long way in terms of providing basic infrastructure and
developing environment ideal for sports.
