Bharat Yadav is not surprised that Narsingh Yadav’s whole-hearted effort to win an Olympic wrestling medal for the nation has been derailed by a new controversy.
“I was afraid he would be targetted. I did not expect those benefitting from his absence to stoop to this level,” said the wrestling coach.
He trained Narsingh as an eight-year old. “Narsingh’s physique is based on hard work. He was focused on doing well in Rio. He refused to even discuss marriage proposals. He did not want any distractions.”
The Sarvajanik Vyayamshala in Jogeshwari, founded by Bharat Pehelwaan (wrestler in Hindi) as the coach likes to be addressed, was Narsingh’s wrestling school.
“He belongs to a wrestling family. Narsingh stood out from the rest for focus and capacity for hard work. From the time he won an Olympic quota place, he became a target for certain people.”
The akhada (wrestling school) draws kids from surrounding areas. “Parents bring them to me in the hope that one will become the next Narsingh Yadav. They see a future for their kids in wrestling. Now this problem has happened and the whole world will be talking.”
The coach is positive about Narsing’s mental strength. “He is a pehelwan, after all. I am more worried about his future. Wrestling is his life and preparing for Rio was his mission. People who hurt him have hurt India,” said Bharat Pehelwan.
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