Sonepat: From the hinterlands of Haryana to a podium finish on the planet’s greatest sporting stage, life has come full circle for grappler Yogeshwar Dutt.
One of the best in the business, but modest to the core, Yogesghwar, like many of his ilk, prefers to remain virtually unsung and lost in the wilderness.
A day out with the unassuming wrestler at his village in Bhainswal Kalan in Sonepat district, and one gets a fair idea of what it takes to be a winner at the Olympics.
Treading the water-clogged roads of Sonepat to the narrow bylanes of a fairly unknown village, it seems as if you have reached a different sphere.
From children to senior citizens, everyone is ready to guide you to the wrestler’s home – a double story house with a room on the ground floor dedicated to Yogeshwar’s achievements.
Amid the festivities that continue unabashed since Yogeshwar’s return from the British capital, one cannot escape the gaze at the five continental rings looming large on the front wall of his house.
“There should be some memories from the London Games,” said a proud Yogeshawar, who was recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award on Friday.
The shields and trophies give you a fair idea about his achievements, his dedication towards the sport and the years of hard work that he has put in to be what he is today.
“My first medal was a wall clock. My father was very happy at my first achievement. Even when it fell and broke down my father made every attempt to get it repaired and hung it with a wire…but when we shifted to this house it got lost somewhere,” said the Olympian.
“I started wrestling at the age of eight or nine. There was an akhara (wrestling arena) near our home and it was from there that my interest in the sport grew.
“I used to go there in the morning, before the school, and once I was back, I again ran to the akhara. Soon it became like missing the first half of my school and spending the time in the akhara. My parents were very annoyed but they never discouraged me. My father especially supported me a lot,” said Yogeshwar.
In 2003 Yogeshwar won his first major title in the senior category – a gold at the Commonwealth Championships.
The wrestler followed that up with a bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in the 60kg freestyle, three days after his father died.
In between Yogeshwar had his first tryst with the Olympics, where he finished a distant 18th in the 55kg freestyle category.
While Sushil won a bronze at the Beijing Games, Yogeshwar suffered heart-break, losing his quarterfinal bout, but that only motivated him further.
By Sushil’s own admission it was Yogeshwar who was more of a contender in 2008.
Yogeshawar suffered a career threatening injury just after the Beijing Games, but his resolve to make the next Olympics count kept him going through the difficult phase.
With his mother eager to see him get married, asked what were his plans after fulfilling his dream, Yogeshwar giggled, “Mum has given me four more years. After winning a bronze her greed has increased, she wants me to clinch a gold at the next Olympics.” (PTI)