Ravinder’s brilliant run in the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest had raised hopes of clinching India’s first gold medal in the short history of the global tournament. However, the Indian Air Force wrestler from Haryana paid for a brief lapse in concentration to lose to Kyrgyzstan’s Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov in the final of the 61kg freestyle event on Wednesday night.
Ravinder lost by points (3-5), but it was the first major medal in the 22-year-old wrestler’s bumpy early career. The first period ended with Ravinder 1-0 up after his opponent was docked a point for passivity. But his efforts to build on that slender advantage didn’t pay off. With two minutes left, Zholdoshbekov took time out for a nose bleed. Attended by the medical staff, he sprang back with fresh energy, escaped Ravinder’s clutches first and then flipped him twice to collect four points. Ravinder won two points towards the fag end, but a challenge to add at least one more point to tie scores failed. The lost challenge gave Zholdoshbekov another point.
But it has been some journey for the youngster from Sonepat, the wrestling hub of the country.
The IAF wrestler has already had to undergo surgery in his right knee twice, and then was lucky to get into the draw in the national U-23 championships that he won to book his spot in the Hungary meet.
Ravinder’s victories in his three bouts, including the semi-finals, in the world meet have been creditable. His IAF coach Ashok Kumar praised him. “He is a warrior and doesn’t give up. This quality should enable him to stay in the race.”
In September, Ravinder was not even sure of competing in the U-23 nationals held at Shirdi, Maharashtra. He was still recovering from the second knee surgery he underwent last December. As he had not taken part in any competition, his chances of representing Services looked bleak. However, he got an entry at the eleventh hour after a teammate dropped out.
Still, it was tough as only winners in each weight category were eligible for Budapest. “Training achhi nahin thee, phir bhee gold win kar liya (training wasn’t very good, but he still managed to win gold),” said his long time coach Naresh Dahiya.
Ravinder has trained under Dahiya since he was 10, at Shahbad Dairy in the Rohini area of West Delhi. “He hails from my village (in Sonepat district). Since his father wanted him to become a good wrestler, he was sent to my akhara,” said a proud Dahiya. His centre accommodates 30-40 wrestlers and Ravinder didn’t feel homesick, he added.
Ravinder’s family is passionate about the sport. His father, a small time farmer, used to participate in local dangals (competitions) while his elder brother too was an avid wrestler.
Ravinder got more opportunities to showcase his talent as he trained in a good set up and took part in competitions. In 2013, he won gold at the National School Games. A bronze followed in the 2014 Asian cadet championships.
In 2015, he claimed silver in the senior nationals, going on to win gold in the 2016 South Asian Games. He joined IAF on sports quota in 2016, but his career came to a temporary halt in 2017 after he had finished fifth in the U-23 worlds.
He hurt his right knee in training, said Dahiya. “The only option was surgery.” It took more than six months for Ravinder to make a comeback. As he was limping back to fitness, he again hurt the knee and underwent surgery again last December
“He has given ample proof of his talent in Budapest,” said his departmental coach Kumar. A promotion to sergeant is due. A global medal around his neck will make it sweeter.
Earlier on Wednesday, in men’s 79kg bronze medal match, Veer Dev Gulia lost 4-5 to Russia’s Radik Valiev. In the women’s freestyle competition, Jyoti grabbed her chance to enter the semifinal of the women’s 50kg freestyle. However, she lost to Japan’s Kika Kagata 4-15. She will fight for bronze on Thursday.
In the inaugural U-23 meet at Poland in 2017, Indian won three silver medals, while Ravi Dahiya won silver in the 2018 edition in Bucharest.
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