Why Sushil Kumar’s farcical gold at the nationals does the champion disservice
It’s demeaning that Sushil is anointed as National champion in such a manner.
Winning a national title in any sport at home was considered to be very special. At least, that’s how it was until a few years ago, before international rankings, current Tour results and other criteria started gaining prominence.
On November 17, in dusty Indore, it could have been a nostalgic moment for wrestling fans to see two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar compete in the 74-kg category. What people saw instead was a farce as Sushil won gold not by beating the opposition but three grapplers conceding walkovers in the last three rounds.
Was it sheer coincidence that Praveen from Haryana, Sachin Rathi from Uttar Pradesh and Parveen Rana of Delhi did not step on the mat citing medical reasons? To borrow a phrase from cricket, giving “benefit of doubt” to these three wrestlers is justified. If anyone needs to be probed for the sham that took place, it is people who were entrusted with the technical conduct of the national championship.
It’s easy for a wrestler to fake injury. From something as simple as stomach gripe to any pain which is not visible to the naked eye, a wrestler can concede a bout. One wonders how Sushil felt like, going through these moments where opponents came, bowed and walked away.
It was very reminiscent of the “guru-chela parampara” in “akharas”, where the trainee is supposed to respect his guru. What makes the whole thing a bit more dubious is the lead-up to the Nationals.
Sushil, who has been away from competitive wrestling for almost three years, had to enter the Nationals after coming through competitive bouts in the Railway meet. There, too, a similar pattern was seen where opponents did concede bouts to Sushil. Had this been a sport like cricket, people would have uttered the ugly word of “fixing.”
Pray, with a champion like Sushil, how can one use such a phrase? Sushil himself cannot be held guilty for actions of his opponents.
If anything, as a decorated wrestler who is a true champion and has won laurels for the nation, it’s very demeaning that Sushil is anointed as National champion in such a manner. In Beijing 2008 and London 2012, Sushil won Olympic medals with a large heart.
As one present in the arenas on both occasions, I can tell you watching Sushil win those Olympic medals made the heart fill with pride. Not many would want to see this National medal of Sushil where some kind of “planning” seemed to have been done to ensure the champion makes a winning return. Memories of 2016 are still fresh in mind where the wrestling federation backed a dope cheat – Narsingh Yadav – and landed with egg on its face in Rio. It was one of the saddest moments in Indian sporting history where India had a virtual no-show in the 74-kg draw.
Once it became clear that Narsingh had flunked a dope test in India, Sushil wanted selection trials to be held. The federation baulked it and Sushil, despite going to a court of law in Delhi, was unable to go through a trial so that he could stake his claim for a berth in the Rio squad. The grapevine says after the snub in 2016, Sushil is very keen to win a medal at next year’s Commonwealth Games and possibly sign out.
The standard of competition in the Commonwealth Games is very ordinary and Sushil could be fancying his chances. Yet, the point is, how will the wrestling federation deal with matmen who conceded bouts?
It would have made sense to constitute a medical board and see how serious these wrestlers injuries were. After all, in any contact sport, no sportsperson is a 100 per cent fit. To be sure, Sushil is a multifaceted wrestler. Competitor, coach, mentor, senior officer at the Chhatrasal Stadium in the Capital where plenty of wrestlers train, and also government observer for the sport.
In July, at the world wrestling meet in France where the Indians fared poorly, Sushil went as observer. His performance report submitted to the sports ministry was skimpy and came in for a lot of flak. The point is, these days it has become fashionable to be an observer and competitive athlete at the same time.
Recently, MC MaryKom, government observer and competitor, won a fifth Asian title. It was commendable for the mother of three to come out in top again. The point is, why does the sports ministry appoint athletes as observers, who are supposed to give feedback and end up becoming competitors themselves?
Sushil will be expected to submit a report on the Indore Nationals as well. Will he criticise the lack of competitive strength in Indian wrestling or praise himself for winning a gold medal remains to be seen.
For fans of Indian wrestling and the biggest icon at home in the sport, watching Sushil or reading about how he won gold in Indore is painful. People love to see the underdogs take on champions. Even if they lose, they get cheered. Cricket’s Bodyline series was no different.
Sadly, today, Sushil the champion has been reduced to a caricature. Whoever is responsible for it deserves brickbats, not bouquets.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)