India’s success in the recent Asian junior wrestling championships in Manila is providing hope for the coming years, but the fraternity warns that the traditional ‘akharas’.
India’s success in the recent Asian junior wrestling championships in Manila is providing hope for the coming years, but the fraternity warns that the traditional ‘akharas’ (training centres) should be given their due in order to ensure a big player base.
“Our success may largely be because of more scientific preparations but the fact is that we came through the traditional training facilities run by former wrestlers,” says Joginder Kumar, who won a gold in the 120kg freestyle competition in Manila.
“We have gained immensely with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) providing us better training facilities and also because of the special camps for the Commonwealth Games. But we all know the importance of our first training grounds,” says Joginder, who was one of the stars in the Indian contingent, which finished with five gold, four silver and five bronze medals in the Asian meet.
Agrees former Olympian and Arjuna awardee Rohtas Dahiya. “Everyone remembers the national coach at the time of success, but not many outside the fraternity know the real men behind the upcoming wrestlers,” says Dahiya, who is presently in the midst of a campaign to try and get his coach Captain Chand Roop a Dronacharya award.
“His is the best example of hard work not being rewarded. He has coached five Arjuna awardees, a host of Olympians and hundreds who competed at the national level, but has hardly got anything in return. It is important that such people are recognised for their contribution because they provide the base for the sport,” says Dahiya, presently employed with the Railways.
Captain Chand Roop, who runs his training centre in New Delhi, completes three generations of wrestlers swearing by the traditional system. “It is heartening to see our wrestlers do so well because, for any coach, there is nothing better than seeing a trainee win in top competitions. This is a tribute to our indigenous coaching system,” says the former armyman who is now past 80 years in age. And it is not just the training imparted at these ‘akharas’ that help upcoming wrestlers.
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