India’s Olympic bronze medallist, pugilist Vijender Kumar's outstanding feat earned him and his family members not one but two gaffes on his return to India.
Bronze medallists Vijender Kumar and Sushil Kumar were accorded rousing
welcome at the Delhi airport on Monday night
NEW DELHI: India’s Olympic bronze medallist, pugilist Vijender Kumar, may have become the nation’s heartthrob after his impressive bouts at the Olympics, but his outstanding feat earned him and his family members not one but two gaffes on his return to India.
First, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), at the request of the Indian Olympics Association (IOA), booked the Indian boxing contingent, of which Vijender is a part, at Hotel Sky Rich International, a shoddy two-star hotel in a dingy lane in Karol Bagh. Compare this to Indian cricketers would never settle for anything less than a five-star accommodation even on their shortest visits to a city.
The second and the most humiliating shocker came when Vijender’s father Beniwal Singh and uncle Ramesh Singh, who had come at the airport to receive Vijender, were roughed up by the security personnel. The two were initially not allowed to enclosure created by the Delhi Police near the arrival lounge of the airport. The skirmish happened as the security officials failed to recognise Beniwal. It was after Vijender’s father pleaded before a waiting media that the cops finally relented and allowed the family entry into the enclosure.
Vijender’s family and the media had raised objections over the arrangements made for his accommodation at the Karol Bagh hotel, following which the IOA made alternate arrangements for the entire boxing contingent at The Claridges, a five-star hotel situated in the plush Aurangzeb Road in Lutyen’s Delhi. While the IOA and security personnel may have let down the nation’s hero, his fans certainly didn’t.
Vijender and bronze-winning grappler Sushil Kumar received a euphoric reception from thousands of wildly cheering fans carrying musical instruments to create the effect of an ensemble. The cacophony of drums matching the fireworks was overwhelming.
As flowers rained on the newly crowned sporting stars of the country hundreds of fans waited to catch a glimpse of the stars.
Thankfully, IOA officials, including Suresh Kalmadi and secretary-general Randhir Singh who arrived by the same flight, let the real heroes be the focus of all the attention. Sports Minister MS Gill and officials of his ministry were also present at the airport to greet the members of the Indian contingent.
Delhi-boy Sushil Kumar was driven in a flower-bedecked open jeep from the airport to his Najafgarh home in West Delhi. His fellow-wrestlers from Chattarsal stadium and a large number of ‘akharas’ (wrestling clubs) dotted the entire stretch with an infectious elation.
After spending a sleepless night, saddled with the affection of his fans, the residents of Najafgarh felicitated Sushil at a function near his house. Like a newly crowned king, Sushil arrived at the function riding on an elephant-back with flowers scattered all along the route. “I cannot explain how happy I am to see so many people turning up to receive me. This reception is motivational enough for me to work with renewed vigour to win gold next time,” said Sushil.
Later in the day, the medal-winners met President Pratibha Patil who congratulated the duo for bringing distinguished laurels to the country and to the individual sports. Following the meeting, the duo said that they would now prepare to win gold in the 2012 London Olympics.
“I will do preparations for the forthcoming 2010 commonwealth games, Asian games and the 2012 London Olympics,” said Sushil.
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