6-time BJP MP from UP is strongman for India’s wrestlers too

Minutes into the primary day of the ladies’s wrestling nationwide championships at a college on the outskirts of Agra, the place over 200 contestants jostled with spectators to observe the motion, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the 64-year-old president of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), introduced a money prize.
Sitting on a cushioned couch on a podium overlooking two mats, Singh declared: “Koi pehelwan agar kursi par khada ho, toh use dhakka maar-kar gira do aur mere paas se 500 rupay le jaiye (If you find any wrestler standing on a chair, then topple her with a push and take Rs 500 from me).”
On cue, the gang laughed. But it was a kind of moments when nobody was fairly positive if Singh — a six-time BJP MP from Kaiserganj in UP, who has a number of prison circumstances towards him, and WFI chief for 9 years — was being sarcastic or severe. Order prevailed quickly.
It was trademark Singh, the hands-on strongman-administrator who has had the final phrase in something wrestling in India for near a decade now. “These are all strong men and women. To control them, you need someone stronger. Is there anyone stronger here than me?” he asks.
In an period when sports activities tournaments have been was an occasion administration trade, wrestling stays a throwback to the outdated occasions.
The occasion that featured Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and plenty of in competition for the Tokyo Games later this yr had a “dangal” really feel to it. Apart from medals and the perk of a potential Olympic berth, the members additionally fought to take house a buffalo, named Ganga, price Rs 1.5 lakh. However, even because the curtains have been drawn, Ganga was seen tethered on the venue. Officials say the jury was nonetheless out, the worthy wrestler to earn the prize hadn’t but been picked.
A standard sight at any such event in India, nationwide or worldwide, senior or junior, is of Singh sitting on a podium with a mic in his hand. He will shout out directions for referees and wrestlers, cease and begin a bout as he deems match, will type ad-hoc legal guidelines that defy the rulebook.
“This is how I have controlled crowds of 15,000-20,000 people at my political events,” says Singh. “I am using the same style here… I understand that as WFI president, I shouldn’t cheer for one pehelwan or say things out loud, but what can I do, sometimes I get carried away.”
Last week, in the course of the males’s nationwide championships in Noida, Singh suspended a Railways coach for being too animated on the sidelines. Then, he demanded that the judges dock some extent from a Delhi wrestler’s rating as his supporters entered the sphere of play. For nearly 10 minutes, the judges argued there was no provision to take such a call. “Hum keh rahe hai na, kar dijiye (I am saying this, please do it),” Singh informed them earlier than finally relenting.
“It’s very tough to manage his expectations, especially when it comes to technical aspects of a bout,” says a referee. “But he also understands the sport, so once he calms down, he lets us deal with the situation.”
On uncommon events the place he isn’t current bodily at an occasion, Singh screens the proceedings nearly. “In March 2020, we had our national championships in Himachal Pradesh and I couldn’t go there. So we installed cameras everywhere so I could see everything from my house in New Delhi,” says Singh.
In Agra, he threatened to deflate the tyres of those that didn’t observe parking guidelines, continued to inform the referees when to award or dock some extent, vetoed video referrals and gave directions to the UP police on crowd administration — all with a mic in his hand and from the rostrum.
The gamers are conscious of Singh’s affect. Last weekend, when dope-tainted wrestler Narsingh Yadav — who Singh adjudged to be harmless after he failed a medication check in 2016 — misplaced his bout in controversial circumstances, he made an enchantment to not the judges however on to Singh. It was solely after Singh decided that Yadav had no case was the matter closed.
Another acquainted sight at these nationals is of members searching for Singh’s blessings, even earlier than going to oldsters or coaches, after profitable a medal. “It’s become a tradition over the years,” says a wrestler. “Samajh lijiye samman se hi hai (You can understand that it is only out of respect).”
Says WFI vice-president Vinod Tomar: “Wrestlers are mostly disciplined but still, you need a strong man to control all these strong men.” Singh smirks: “Aur humse zyada shaktishali aur koi hai kya (And is there anyone else stronger than me?)”