Reviving Gurdaspur’s gymnastics glory

Two things, among others, that really define Gurdaspur are its religious sites and its proximity to the International Border. Unfortunately, what remains largely unknown is the remarkable number of outstanding gymnasts the city produced till recently. However, a two-year hiatus followed, during which good gymnasts, or potential national-level participants became a rare commodity due to an assortment of reasons.

One day, former gymnast Jio Lal Bagga walked into the Gymnasium Hall and was disheartened to learn that Gurdaspur no longer served as the conveyor belt for top-class gymnasts as it had before 2023.

The city’s lack of a vibrant sports culture reflected from the fact that very few know about Vir Singh, one of India’s top gymnasts, who hailed from Gurdaspur. In 1952, he qualified for the Helsinki Olympics after clearing the qualifying hurdles. Those familiar with his story say Vir Singh was a man of strong self-belief, had the power to dream of an Olympic medal and was determination-personified. Even in defeat, he demonstrated the value of fighting valiantly and remembered the countless life lessons that came from setbacks.

Having a gymnastics Olympian like Vir Singh in the ranks is an honour for the 500-year-old city. Vir Singh retired as an SP, Punjab Police, before passing away in 2006. A time will come when a nation that does not respect its heroes will have none left. Heroes like him were ordinary individuals who found the strength to persevere and endure despite overwhelming obstacles.

In 2023, Jio Lal Bagga, who holds a diploma in sports coaching from the National Institute of Sports (NIS), retired as a deputy commandant from the CRPF. He wondered why not give back to the sport that had given him so much.

The first step he took was to form an association similar to those existing in other sports at the district level. The Gurdaspur District Gymnastics Association was established. Without such an association, it becomes nearly impossible for young gymnasts to participate in national competitions. Bagga is also a national-level judge.

Bagga roped in Sohan Lal, a serving Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Punjab Police, as the association’s president. Lal, once declared the best gymnast at the All-India Police Games, also competed in national championships. Though Sohan Lal is Bagga’s brother, the choice was based purely on his invaluable experience and expertise. Former national player Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal was appointed vice-president, while Bagga took on the role of general secretary. Inspector Avdesh Singh, a national-level gymnast in Punjab Police, was brought in as a technical advisor.

Thanks to Bagga’s efforts, over 150 players, from tiny tots to teenagers, practice twice daily at the hall. They are coached by women coaches Lovely and Komal, both from the Punjab Sports Department (PSD), along with Rakesh Kumar, who was brought in through the District Olympic Association.

Jagtar Singh, a PSD coach, is remembered for producing several national and international women gymnasts, including international players Jaswant Kaur (DSP), Samita Sharma, Santosh, Rohika, Paramjot Kaur and Ritu Bala. Anju Sharma and Rajni Saini competed at the national level. While Jagtar focused on female gymnasts, coaches Mohinder Kumar Malhotra and Hazara Singh concentrated on developing top-tier male gymnasts such as the Dhaliwal trio: Amrik Singh, Balwinder Singh and Dilbagh Singh; Saranjit Singh, who competed in the 1982 Delhi and 1986 Seoul Asian Games; Vijay Kumar, an All-India Police Games medallist; and Dr Rajinder Pathania, an international judge.

Few realise that being a gymnastics judge is one of the most challenging roles in sports. Judges must master complex, frequently updated rulebooks, maintain intense mental focus to evaluate routines within seconds and endure the physical demands of long competition days. “The increasing complexity of routines necessitates continuous learning and recent rule changes require judges to physically perform some routines to ensure they understand the difficulty first hand,” said Bagga.

The aesthetic appeal of the Gymnasium Hall has been greatly enhanced due to the efforts of former Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal, who also established a lawn tennis court, a basketball court and a swimming pool. Interestingly, Aggarwal is also remembered by the city’s sportsmen for his cricketing prowess, known for playing lofted shots on either side of the wicket better than many battle-hardened batters. His love for sports is what drove him to support the Gymnasium.

The current incumbent, Dalwinderjit Singh, is also working diligently to ensure the infrastructure and equipment function efficiently.

“Everything you need to be great again is already inside you, now just bring it out with determination and dedication,” says Bagga.

Gurdaspur is determined to prove that its past glory was no fluke. For the city and its gymnasts, it is not merely about winning or losing competitions; it is about conquering the doubts within oneself and knowing, at the end of each day, that you gave it your all. This is the motto guiding the city’s revival in gymnastics.