According to the latest released United World Wrestling rankings, Bajrang Punia with 96 points topped the charts with a 30-point lead over second-placed Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier of Cuba. The 24-year-old Indian freestyle wrestler Bajrang Punia kickstarted his international journey by claiming a bronze medal in the 60-kg category at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championship, and now he is the new World No. 1 wrestler in the freestyle 65kg category. In an exclusive interview with Organiser correspondent Nishant Kr Azad, the Haryana soft-spoken grappler touches on many things concerning wrestling. Excerpts:
Q. First of all, tonnes of congratulations for becoming the No.1 wrestler in the 65 Kg category. How do you feel to be on top?
Bahut accha lag raha hai (Feeling great). I cannot express this feeling in words. Every player dreams about this, and it’s like a dream come true for me. I want to thank the Almighty for his blessings. I also want to thank the wrestling federation for the way they support players. This achievement is not mine alone; this is a national achievement. The achievement is also motivating for the upcoming talents in wrestling.
Q. In recent years, Indian wrestling has achieved new heights. What is the reason behind this surge?
I agree with you. It’s a combined effort of all the players, and that’s why we are now getting results also. When Sushil Kumar won bronze in the Beijing Olympics, in 2008, it worked as a changing moment for all the wrestlers. When it comes to wrestling in India, now the first names that hit your head are Sushil Bhai and Yogeshwar Bhai (read Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt). We are fortunate to have him around us. They always keep motivating us and telling us that we can beat anyone. Their consistent performance motivates us so that we can also perform well and win medals. We are just following his footprints.
Q. If we talk about ranking, in the men’s category you are the only Indian in the top ten while in the women’s category, there are five Indian wrestlers. How do you see the growing interest of girls in wrestling?
The reason behind the rise of women wrestling is a change in thought. Pehle ladkiyon ko wrestling nahi Karne dete the, ise mardo ka khel maana jaata tha (Earlier girls were not allowed to do wrestling, it was considered a game of boys), but things have changed now. Especially after Sakshi Malik and Phogat sisters bring medals for the country. Their performance encouraged many girls to take up wrestling. The movie ‘Dangal’ also helped in breaking this barrier.
Q. You made your International debut at the Asian Wrestling Championship, 2013 in New Delhi. You were not in the original Indian squad but were included at the last hour. How do you see this incident?
It was a life-changing moment for me. I have fond memories of that tournament as it was my international debut in the senior category. I was preparing myself for the Junior Championship. Then Yogeshwar bhai had to pull out due to an injury and then I gave the trial and got selected. He told me to give my best and ensure his absence was not felt. His belief and my hard work helped me to bag a bronze medal in that tournament. After that, I have not played at Junior level for almost two years. From 2014, Yogeshwar Bhai started playing in the 65Kg category, and I got a chance to play continuously in the 61 Kg category, and because of the change in category, I got an opportunity to represent India in 61 Kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Q. Whom do you consider as your guiding force?
Yogeshwar Bhai is my role model. Mai unhi ko dekhkar bada hua hoon aur hamesha se yehi chaha ki mai unke jaisa pahalwaan banoo (I grew up seeing Yogeshwar Bhai and always wanted to be a wrestler like him). Even I have been training with him for the last ten years. I must say that it is Yogeshwar Bhai whose inputs always helped me besides all the guidance from coaches.
Q. If we talk about training methods, do you think that Indian wrestling is different from other countries?
Yes, we have a different style of training. In the beginning, we train ourselves in mud, but players of other nations do their training on the mat from the beginning. Even they don’t train as hard as we do. They spends a lot of time in the gym and on the mat but we spend our time in Akhara, doing utthak baithak and desi style of exercises.
Q. At what age, you found your interest in wrestling?
I was seven when I make up my mind to choose wrestling. My village Khudan (a village in the Jhajjar district of Haryana) is a wrestling hub. I still remember Narendra Pehelwan ji, a Bharat Kesari awardee who took me to Chhatrasal Stadium. There I met Yogendra Bhai and from there wrestling become my life. Because of Narendra Ji, there was an atmosphere of wrestling in the village. I started wrestling with him.
Q. How do you see the role of family and society in your success?
It is family and society that plays a vital role in nurturing you. If the people around you are confident, then they will keep motivating you by the time you will not meet your goals.
Q. Haryana is considered the land of wrestlers now. Primarily it was only man wrestlers, but now woman wrestlers are coming out in large numbers.
Haryana ki mitti me hi jaadu hai (There is a magic in soil of Haryana). And, then it is the sports policy of Haryana that motivates men and women to choose sports as a career. Earlier there was no money in sports except cricket, but now the perception and rewards both have changed with the success of wrestlers.
Earlier there was no respect for pehelwans (wrestlers), people thought that pehelwan to sirf laadai jhagde ke lie hote hai (The wrestlers are only meant for fighting), but things have changed now, especially after Sushil Kumar won bronze in the Beijing Olympics and gold at the 2010 World Championship. Later India built a reputation of being a wrestling power when Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt bagged silver and bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. Now the wrestlers receive respect wherever they go.
Q. How do you see the role of the present Government in sports?
Things have changed after Narendra Modi Government came to power. When a Prime Minister of the country wishes you personally before big tournaments, it works like a morale booster. For a sportsperson, it is recognition and respect matter the most.
Q. What is your next target?
See, my priority is to perform well in every tournament. But one thing that upset me most is, we have silver and bronze in wrestling in the Olympics, but till now we haven’t been able to win gold. So my next target is to win gold in the Tokyo Olympics and bring laurel for our country.
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