Haryana wrestlers opting to stick to sport than enter political ring

With many politicians punching above their weight in the no-holds-barred electoral slugfest, it is not surprising that additional muscle power has become even more crucial.

It is heartening to note, however, that in Haryana, wrestlers are already increasingly turning down the chance to help politicians put their opponents on the mat with their strong-arm tactics. That they now prefer to stick to being sportsmen and aim, instead, for national and international medals despite seasonal muscle-flexing being a well-established tradition in the belt clearly marks a critical shift.

Whether this reticence is a result of the good showing by Indian grapplers in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games or has something to do with electronic voting machines, extensive video-graphing and extra security measures limiting their ability to deliver on their KRAs (intimidation and booth-capturing), it is commendable that pehelwans are opting out.

Of course, bouncers and bodybuilders are now taking the wrestlers’ place, but as those two professions have little scope for alternative international glory, their acquiescence is understandable. Besides, even strictly professional pehelwans still have the option of entering the political ring later considering akharas have been the early stomping grounds of many a current political heavyweight.