RIO DE JANEIRO:The annihilation of Yogeshwar Dutt is a sordid reflection on ailing sports in India. The London Games bronze medallist was the brightest hope for a medal the in Rio edition, but the way he was tormented and torn apart suggests not everything is fine with Indian wrestling.
From the moment he walked onto the mat, Yogeshwar looked jaded. The sprightly moves, vice-like grips and deadly ‘pheetla’ were missing. Mongolian wrestler Ganzorig Mandakhnaran (65kg) was not a novice by any standard, but Yogeshwar made the former look like formidable. Not too many wrestlers have both World Championships gold and an Olympic bronze like Yogeshwar. Although the medals were in 60kg, he is still considered one of the most lethal wrestlers and competitors across the globe respect him for the heart he shows in taking risks. But on a damp Sunday morning, as the city was gearing up for the Closing Ceremony, Yogeshwar delivered one of his most insipid performances. Finally, everything ended the way it started for India – uninspiring and disappointing.
There is no mystery to what happened on the mat when Yogeshwar lost 0-3, but there is one concerning his fitness. When this reporter visited Sonepat in July, Yogeshwar was practising and, suddenly, he was on the floor, holding his back. He has undergone multiple surgeries on his knees and the fragile back too has been giving him sleepless nights. That particular day he had a spasm, visibly painful, which he later said would heal by the time the Olympics began. He was barely able to sit. Whether it healed or not, was not revealed by anyone in the Wrestling Federation of India, however, it was evident by the way he fought that he was not in a good shape, losing to someone he could have beaten without breaking a sweat. His hard work and sacrifices yielded nothing.
After silver (Sushil Kumar) and bronze (Yogeshwar) in London, wrestling showed hope. The sport, instead of prospering, seems to be degenerating. Hiding behind flimsy excuses and browbeating, the federation is unaware and clueless about the wrestlers' needs. Unnecessary politicking over Narsingh Yadav consumed most of their time and energy. Their focus shifted to that avoidable tangle.
Later, when Yogeshwar failed to qualify for the repechage round, his coaches Jagminder Singh and Kuldeep Malik refused to talk about men’s wrestling. As if gagged by the federation, the coaches were willing to speak about the women rather than the men here. They did not want to talk about Yogeshwar’s fight either. The wrestler himself quietly went into the bus and did not want to talk. He looked devastated. In his final Olympics, this is not the way he wanted to exit.
Yogeshwar has been grappling with form and fitness for quite some time. Even at the Spanish GP a month before the Olympics, he lost to Cuba's Yowlys Bonne, someone who did qualify for the Games in Madrid.
“The women’s team did well and the men’s performance could have been better,” said Malik, the women's coach, who was with Yogeshwar at the bout. “I will not be able to talk about his fitness.” This summarises India’s story at the Olympics.
Sakshi Malik, who won the lone bronze, was the only saving grace. The flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony will perhaps give hope to all women wrestlers pursuing the sport.
indraneel.das@newindianexpress.com