Avtar Singh's father dug out money from his savings and took loans to ensure that his son becomes first Indian judoka to qualify for Games in 12 years. Now, the youngster from Gurdaspur wants to do well in Rio not just for himself, but for his entire sporting fraternity.
As judoka Avtar Singh retires after one of his regular, yet hectic practice sessions in the build-up to the Rio Olympics, there isn't even an iota of exhaustion in his voice. Ask for another hour of gruelling training, and one can bet that he would be up on his toes again.
Having returned from Hungary a few days ago where he was preparing under the best of facilities and expertise, one would expect Avtar to take a break to refresh himself before the upcoming mega event in Rio. But that's not how Avtar functions. The 24-year-old has continued his practice sessions in New Delhi as well.
It's clear he wants to leave no stone unturned in terms of preparation before he departs to Rio de Janeiro at the end of this month. As the first Indian judoka to have qualified in the Olympics in 12 years, the youngster from Gurdaspur doesn't want to go there just to fill up the numbers. Avtar wants to make a mark, make apt use of this golden opportunity.
Unlike other high-profile Indian athletes boarding the flight to Rio, there is no spotlight on Avtar. The expectations, too, are not very high. Not that it matters to the man himself.
"Expectations nahi hai, achcha hai (It's good that there are no expectations). I don't care about others' expectations, but I have a lot of expectations from me. What others think about me matters less. What I think about myself is more important," he tells dna.
"When there are expectations, there is pressure. But I never really take the pressure, so there is no point in talking about expectations. I have been doing what I am supposed to do. I am working hard day in and day out with my coach Yashpal Solanki and not thinking about the results. My job is to practice, the results will follow automatically," Avtar adds.
The 24-year-old's qualification to the Rio Olympics was a surprise in itself. He was one of the two Asian judokas in the 90kg event to clinch a continental quota for the Games. Not many predicted him to be a contender to qualify for the quadrennial event. But again, it didn't really matter to him. He went about his job quietly, and made the breakthrough.
"The qualification process is different in judo. You need to have better rankings in order to make it to the Olympics. I went from 200 to 79 in one year due to good performances in various tournaments, and that's how I managed to qualify," he says.
The qualification process wasn't easy. Avtar's participation in different events required him to shell out a huge amount of money, and it wasn't coming from either the federation or the government.
"To compete in the international tournaments you need a lot of money, which I lacked. I did not have the backing of the government or federation as well. If my father hadn't broken his fixed deposits and taken loans from others, I wouldn't have managed to participate in those tournaments, forget about qualifying for Olympics," he says.
Avtar's father, who works in the government health department in Punjab, managed to accumulate Rs 6-7 lakh through different means to ensure that his son participates in the Samsun Grand Prix in Turkey earlier this year. That event was crucial for an Olympic qualification, and Avtar didn't disappoint, returning with a Rio ticket.
"Luck is important in sport. But hard work comes before luck, and hard work is something that I am used to. It is not about me anymore. I want to win a medal for my parents, my coach and the other judokas in India.
"I am not thinking about myself at all. The accolades or money at the moment is immaterial to me. I want a podium finish and recognition for my colleagues. If I would not have qualified, I wouldn't be getting all the kind of attention and facilities that I am getting now. I want the sport to be recognised," Avtar adds.
If not for his father's support at that crucial juncture, Avtar wouldn't be where he is now. And that is what the young lad is most disappointed about.
"What is the use of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) when the Olympics are only a few days away?," Avtar says. "The government and federation should take interest in developing youngsters immediately after recognising the talent, just like how it is done in China. We need the backing of the administration.
"An individual cannot do it on his own, considering it is difficult to succeed in an individual sport compared to team sport. Every sport should be treated equally and given the backing if you want results," he adds.
That said, he isn't complaining about other sports getting more attention and money compared to judo.
"I love playing judo. The sport is big in Gurdaspur and everyone plays it. I knew there is less scope in judo compared to other sports but I still went ahead to pursue it. I don't have any regrets. I don't mind if I don't get the attention. However, it will make me happy if judo gets recognition. It will be more satisfying to me," he says.
Long-term goals notwithstanding, Avtar remains focussed on his immediate task: doing well at the Olympics. "I will try my best. The process is primary, the results are simply fruits of it," he says.
QUOTE
To compete in the international tournaments you need a lot of money, which I lacked. I did not have the backing of the government or federation as well. If my father hadn't broken his fixed deposits and taken loans from others, I wouldn't have managed to participate in those tournaments, forget about qualifying for Olympics
--Avtar Singh, India judoka
KNOW AVTAR
Full name: Avtar Singh
Born: April 3, 1992 (age 24); Gurdaspur, Punjab
Height: 6.4 ft
Weight: 90 kg
DID YOU KNOW?
* Growing up in Kothe Ghurala village in Gurdaspur, Avtar worked on his parents' farm. Now, he is an assistant sub-inspector for the Punjab Police
* Avtar took part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, losing to eventual silver medallist Matthew Purssey of Scotland in the Round of 16
* He clinched the gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati, defeating Mohammad Kakar of Afghanistan in the final
INDIAN JUDO CONTINGENT
Player Event
Avatar Singh Men's 90 kg
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