Wrestlers train on the eve of the 2023 Senior National Wrestling Championships at the railway stadium in Jaipur. (Express photo by Nihal Koshie)
Not far from the competition venue of the Senior National Wrestling Championships here, under a large shamiana, is a lavish buffet spread at lunchtime. There is a well-stocked non-veg counter and also a salad station. Earlier the participants were escorted to the hotel by officials who were there to receive them at the airport or railway station.
Few days back another wrestling ‘Nationals’ was held at Pune, it was organised by the president of the suspended WFI Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of the erstwhile president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who faces sexual harassment charges against him. The Sports Ministry had called it illegal. At Pune wrestlers had to go hungry as there were no eating options at the venue and among the ‘reception party’ at the venue were an army of mosquitoes.
The Jaipur event has the blessings of the Ministry and is conducted by the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc committee. It’s the first step for grapplers dreaming of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Intriguingly, the man in the thick of things in organising the event is the Secretary general of the suspended WFI Prem Chand Lochab. However, for this Nationals he is wearing the hat of the secretary of the Railway Sports Promotion Board which is the host.
Pointing to the lunch tables, Lochab says, “The spread is like there is a wedding in the family”. Top railway officials, including Arjuna awardees, have been roped into various committees. “This is a prestigious championship and we want everything to be perfect,” says organising secretary Anuj Kumar Tayal. Lochab insists that they have set high standards for the championship. “The wrestlers are a priority at these nationals. Meals are being provided to all the wrestlers, we have put them up at hotels, they don’t have to pay a paisa from their pocket for anything,” Lochab said.
Meanwhile, at the field of play, a temporary mega tent is put up on the outfield of the railway cricket stadium; hired hands, officials are busy giving the finishing touches. Wrestling mats are being laid out on an elevated platform, a giant screen is being installed at one end, referees are inspecting the warmup area and preparations are being made for an opening ceremony programme.
Manager and coach of the 19-member Odisha team Santosh Das was one of the first to reach Jaipur. Das said the state did not field a team in Pune. “The past year has not been great for the sport but wrestlers are looking forward to participating in these nationals because it is the official one. The top wrestlers will be included in the national camp and can then appear for Olympic qualification trials too. Now there is clarity on the path ahead,” Das said.
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