Wrestlers are the action heroes of Indian sport. With skills honed in mud pits and using native guile, they pull off sensational performances on faster mat surfaces. Narsingh Yadav added his name to
the list of international medal winners with a superb manoeuvre to outwit his French rival, Zelimkhan Khadjiev, at the 2015 World Championship in Las Vegas.
Trailing 4-12 and with less than a minute left in the 74 kg freestyle bronze medal bout, the burly Indian flipped his rival over his shoulder, sending him crashing to the mat on his back. Named ‘dhak’ in local wrestling terminology, Narsingh pinned Khadjiev with a headlock followed by a heave.
Surprise move
Asked if he had used a tactic worked out with his coach for such situations, the 26-year-old wrestler replied, “Coaches won’t know how a bout will pan out during a competition. It is for the wrestler to react to situations. I was aware the bout would be over by the time I try to catch up by collecting points. I just tried it out of desperation; he was surprised.”
Khadjiev was winded and Narsingh kept him pinned down for five seconds to confirm his bronze medal and a freestyle quota place in the 74 kg category for the Rio Olympics next year. Thanks to YouTube, dhak will now be replayed a countless times by coaches and wrestlers up against Indians in competitions.
The Frenchman’s coach reacted with horror, bolting from his seat and holding his head with both hands, on seeing the move, an equivalent of a knockout in boxing. In India, however, Narsingh’s lock and flip of Khadjiev will be replayed and watched with pride.
The 2012 London Olympics saw Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt win medals in freestyle against world-class opponents. The bouts were watched by many Indian fans on television and cheered by grapplers from akharas (mud pits). Sushil won the silver medal in the 66 kg category, while Yogeshwar claimed the bronze in the 60 kg class. Both returned home to a hero’s welcome.
Inspiring youngsters
Confident of pulling off victory in any situation, Sushil became an inspiration for wrestlers in mud pits with his daring style, merging courage and craft at the international level. The performances of Sushil and Yogeshwar at the London Games increased the fan following for wrestling.
The Indian grapplers with the talent and ability to adjust to the change from mud pit to mat have been largely successful. Narsingh leapt in celebration in Las Vegas, ran round the mat with raised hands, chased by the Indian coaches who lifted him on their shoulders. For fellow wrestlers tracking Narsingh’s progress from akhara to the mat, the World Championship bronze is a confirmation that home-grown moves or manoeuvres can work in any setting. “I have used this manoeuvre before and even won on the last point,” said Narsingh.
“We are taught many holds and techniques in mud pit wrestling. Mat wrestling is faster. For Indian wrestling to grow, mats should replace mud pits. Talented kids will then get used to mat wrestling. I was lucky to be based at the SAI centre and get used to mats,” added Narsingh, who is based at Kandivali. He is monitored by coach Jagmal Singh.
Narsingh is of the view that mud pit wrestling will continue as long as there is money to be earned. “I took part in mud wrestling for the prize money. There is a limit to family support for a wrestler switching to mat wrestling, so many continue in mud wrestling to make a living,” Narsingh said.
Talking of his quota place in the 74 kg class for the Rio Games, Narsingh said: “Winning a quota place almost a year in advance is good for India. I do not need to compete in the qualifiers and can plan my preparation and work on areas identified by coaches.”
Readying for Rio
Narsingh, who last year won the bronze in the 74 kg class at the Asian Games, is looking to extend his form and fitness into the Olympic year. “My focus will be to ensure my form (continues) till then and I remain injury free,” he noted.
“At the World Championships, I got a close look at the others, including those who got quota places,” he said.
Olympic silver medallist Sushil moved up to the 74 kg class after the world body scrapped the 66 kg post London Olympics.
