Allegations spark mistrust at Sonepat
Narsingh Yadav’s conspiracy claim behind his failed dope test has brought the Sports Authority of India’s Sonepat centre under a cloud of suspicion.
The grappler’s comment that somebody had tampered with his food supplement, or the food served at the centre, and the Wrestling Federation of India backing his claim, has put the credibility of fellow wrestlers, support staff and even the employees at the centre in doubt.
Although the air is filled with rumours and conjectures, an official at the centre questioned why would anyone do it? “For years, this centre has been the hub of wrestling activity. At times, differences have cropped up over selections, and wrestlers have stopped talking to each other, but they’ve always trained together. It has never happened that somebody has tampered with the food supplements. As far as outsiders are concerned, no one can enter the players’ rooms without permission.”
But ever since the news about Narsingh’s failed dope test broke and he started talking about an insider sabotaging his Rio dreams, the campers, including the Riobound women wrestlers, are feeling jittery and are on guard. At the same time, the trust among fellow wrestlers is intact.
“Every player has to be a bit more careful closer to the Games or a major tournament. At the same time, we cannot afford to doubt our fellow wrestlers. Though wrestling is an individual sport, we need help from other wrestlers to excel. If we lose trust, nobody will spar with each other,” said Geeta Phogat, who created history by becoming the first Indian woman to compete in the Olympics in 2012.
“Competing in the Olympics is a prestigious moment for every sportsperson… if Narsingh is unable to go to Rio it will be heartbreaking for him. He is a mature wrestler and I think he will not consume anything that will jeopardise his Olympic chances. But I don’t know how it happened.” KEEPING FAITH Three women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat, Babita Phogat and Sakshi Malik, will be competing in Rio. Geeta, who is in the same weight category as Sakshi (58kg), couldn’t earn a Rio berth in the first qualification tournament and later during trails for the Asian Olympic qualifiers, she lost to Sakshi. Eventually, Sakshi got the quota. But the trust in the camp is intact, to the extent that Sakshi requested for Sangeeta — Geeta’s younger sister — to be her training partner in Bulgaria. At the camp too she trains with Sangeeta and Geeta, her main competitors.
“During the trials I lost to Sakshi, but that doesn’t mean we have become enemies. Sakshi requested for Sangeeta to be her sparring partner and we try to help her in every way possible, so that she can make the country proud,” said Geeta. “Trust between fellow wrestlers is the key to success.”