Railways fails to build training centre for wrestlers

INDORE: The Railways’ plan to set up a training centre for wrestlers who work as railway employees seems to have failed to take off. In 2008, the railways had allotted land near the city railway station to develop the centre, however, no development has taken place.
A decision in this regard was taken after International wrestler Sushil Kumar won a bronze medal at Beijing Olympics in 2008.Authorities of Ratlam Division of Western Railways then decided to send a proposal to the railways headquarters for the same. It had even allotted land at its premises near Rajkumar Bridge area and Kumar was invited to lay the foundation stone for the project on December 18, 2008.
The then Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Ratlam Division of the railways Prashant Kumar and other senior officials had decided to promote the game among wrestlers working with the railways and train them to represent the railways at the Olympics and other international wrestling events.
Railways sources said that due to problems with sanctioning funds, construction work couldn’t be started. A senior railways official said, “A development plan for the project has not yet materialised.”
“There was a project for setting up a training centre, however there is no progress on it,” said JK Jayant, senior PR official of the railways.
Meanwhile, wrestlers working in Ratlam division are also planning to approach railways authorities to initiate the project. “We need to have a place to train. Though the railways’ priority is ensuring safety and amenities for passengers, authorities should also consider the spirit of wrestlers working in the railways,” said Pappu Yadav, renowned wrestler from Indore and a railway employee.
Another well-known wrestler working in the railways, Umesh Patel, said, “How can we bring medals for the railways if they can’t provide facilities for their own players,” he said.