After a gap of four months, ace wrestler and two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, is happy to be back in training at his first home, playing field, and office—the Chatrasaal Stadium in north Delhi.
Here, Kumar has resumed training along with fellow wrestlers and other students, as phase two of the national ‘unlock’ guidelines permits training to resume, with sports facilities in the capital re-opening for training, with safety measures in place.
Despite the havoc that COVID-19 wreaked on training schedules and preparations for the Tokyo Olympics selections, Kumar was in a relaxed and cheerful mood as he resumed training, after having spent four months ensuring he would be physically fit to do so.
The look of pure joy on his face said it all when asked how it felt to train on the mat again after such a long gap.
"It's been three days since I started training on the mat—it feels very good. The stadium authorities have been following all the guidelines and protocols outlined by the state government regarding the resumption of training in sports centres. I cannot say how good or bad the wrestling is—I can only tell after a week or so—but for now I am just very happy to get back on the mat,” he said.
However, with wrestling being a contact sport, it is yet to get the green signal from the Union Sports Ministry for training to resume completely. Top wrestlers have been training in their respective homes and villages with their personal sparring partners and even kept themselves sharp by practising certain moves in mud akhadas. Sushil did the same, training with the rope during the long lockdown period.
"The scenario globally regarding coronavirus is not good; I was in touch with my Russian coach Malikov Kamal—he said quite a few wrestlers in Russia have tested positive for COVID-19. So, one has to take all precautions. I keep telling everyone its a matter of 4-5 months—just take care. I also got time to spend with my family and I did train lightly too in this time."
He added that wrestlers need not worry over the lost time, especially those preparing for the Olympics.
"Improving your performance is in your hands—it’s up to you to work towards peak fitness and performance. Wrestlers have been disturbed over the lack of training and competition but I have been telling all wrestlers not to worry or get too upset. Deal with the pandemic first, work harder when you resume training. I prefer to smile and get on with it—at least that was my way of coping with it" he said.
The wrestling legend shared his life experiences with students, coaches, faculty of Manav Rachna University as part of a series of webinars called ‘Happy Times’, wherein sports legends past and present share their learnings, plans and approach to excellence in sports.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee, when asked whether wrestling had changed post his bronze medal win in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said that things have only changed for the better for him and for the sport.
"I consider myself fortunate. This medal has given me everything. Before 2008, the only refrain we used to hear was that it is impossible [for Indians] to win a medal at the Olympics. But, from the very beginning, my Guru-ji [Mahabali Satpal] told us we have to win an Olympic medal."
His motivation and dream to compete in his fourth Olympics and win another medal remains unwavering. In 2019, he hired Malikov Kamal of Russia as a personal coach to help him prepare him for selection to the Indian team for Tokyo 2020; lack of desired results has seen him being left out of SAI's Target Olympic Podium Scheme. He was set to appear for selection trials for the Asian Championships (also an Olympic qualifying event) but the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. He is also 36 years old at a time when younger wrestlers are already giving the seniors a run for their money.
When asked by Sarkar Talwar, former Haryana off-spinner and current director of sports at the Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, on the secret to his long career, Sushil said, "2008 taught me how to win an Olympic medal. But i believe one must forget the medal win soon after and focus on the next goal.”
“My guru-ji has told me to keep wrestling till my body is fit and I follow his instructions. I am lucky to have a good family support system, a great Guru who keep me focussed on my wrestling," he added.
Sushil admitted that things have changed, with more junior wrestlers getting selected in the senior team unlike during his time when he was ignored for selection in 2002 despite winning the selection trials and beating a more experienced wrestler. He said he expected fine results from the likes of Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, Sumit and Vignesh Phogat. "This team is very fit and all can do very well [at the Olympics]" he said.
