Sports nurseries are into money making, alleges Mahavir Phogat

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, March 26

Wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat today alleged that the nurseries in Haryana had failed to produce results and turned into money making shops.

Talking to The Tribune at the newly set up wrestling academy at Hindu Public School in Chaudhariwas village here today, Phogat, father of Olympian wrestlers Geeta and Babita, said that the nurseries funded by the government should be hold accountable for the performance of their players.

“The nurseries must produce players who can give results in 2-3 years and those which failed to meet a specific parameter of performance should be made to pay the grants back to the government. Even the Sports Authority of India (SAI) despite having talent and infrastructure has not given results to his satisfaction levels,” he said.

Phogat stated that the government, coaches and parents also to be blamed for a dearth of medals in the Olympics and other international-level events in various sports. He recalled there used to be a couple of girls who were even better than his daughters, Geeta and Babita, but they were withdrawn by their families under social pressure. “When the parents of those girls meet me, they feel ashamed of their decision and regret it now,” he said, adding that his academy at his Babali village in Charki Dadri district had around 10 very good women wrestlers whom he was grooming for Olympics. He said that his focus was on the girls’ wrestling as they were more dedicated and disciplined than boys.

Phogat, who shot to international fame after the Aamir Khan’s movie ‘Dangal’ which centred around his struggle and success, said he hoped that two of his girls – daughter Ritu and niece Vinesh – would be serious contenders for gold medals in the next Olympics. “I have already started their preparations and would assess their performances during the upcoming national and international events in the run up to the Olympics,” he said.

He said that despite all success and limelight he received after ‘Dangal’, he didn’t feel that he had changed much as an individual. “There might be some minor changes, but my daily routine and training schedule has not changed at all. I have got so much recognition and honour and now, it is time for him to payback to society,” he said.