Tryst with glory between two positive tests
NARSINGH HAD LOST IN THE FINAL OF THE NATIONAL TRIALS FOR 2010 CWG. BUT HE MADE IT AFTER HIS CONQUEROR FAILED A DOPE TEST
MUMBAI: There is a bit of irony hidden in the fact that Narsingh Yadav will not compete in Rio. Narsingh had lost in the final of the national trials held to select India’s 2010 Commonwealth Games wrestler in the 74kg category. But he made it to the competition in Delhi after his conqueror Sumit Sehrawat failed a dope test.
Narsingh considers that moment a turning point in his life as he went on to win gold in Delhi. Now, another dope test may have changed his fate again.
Ever since Narsingh hit the headlines six years ago, Bharat Yadav has been beseeched by parents to make their kids into another Narsingh. For, the humble mud akhada of the Sarvajanik Vyayamshala, owned by Bharat, is where the 26-year-old took his first steps in the sport.
However, the news of Narsingh failing a dope test hit Mumbai’s wrestling circles like a bombshell.
A security guard at Narsingh’s house in Jogeshwari kept everyone at bay while the wrestlers of Sports Authority of India’s Kandivli campus were nowhere to be seen.
Bharat’s thoughts, meanwhile, flit between the past and present rapidly. He reminisced how regional newspapers until yesterday were full-page spreads for Narsingh. And then without warning he switches over to today when news channels are calling his most famous ward a dope cheat.
“This is a conspiracy against Narsingh. There is no way he has taken any banned substance. He is being framed. Narsingh is an incredibly talented and hardworking athlete. He is a clean wrestler,” Bharat said on Sunday.
As early as mid-may, Bharat had told this newspaper that he was certain “they will try everything to prevent Narsingh from going to Rio.”
Nada’s revelations on Sunday only seem to have affirmed his worst premonitions. “I can only imagine what that boy must be going through,” he said before adding that for the past few months, Narsingh’s family had been inundated with marriage proposals for the wrestler.
“He has been swatting these requests away saying marriage can wait. He only wants to focus on the upcoming Rio Games. Everything else will come later ”