Sleepless in Sonipat

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August 12, 2012 will remain etched in my memory forever. It was the day I made my country, family and well-wishers proud. It was also the dawn of a new beginning for me. The bronze medal at the London Olympics also ended the sleepless nights of suffering of four years.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, I was raw and didn’t carry much hope, but at Beijing I knew I had it in me to finish at the podium. When I lost in the quarterfinals, life came to a standstill. I was shattered, for I had dreamt of a medal at the Olympics, right from the time I saw tennis ace Leander Paes win a medal in 1996.
Until then my ambitions were quite limited. I started wrestling as a hobby in an akhada in my village Bhainswal in Sonipat. Back then, we just wanted to fight and have fun because wrestling was a way of life in our village. However, my parents, both of whom were teachers encouraged me a lot. Soon I started taking part in competitions held in village fairs and then district and state level events. The turning point came in 1999 when I won a medal at the World Cadets Championship in Poland. My parents were over the moon and from there on I was consistent. Most often life has other plans for us while we go about making our own plans. Personal tragedy struck two days before I left for the 2006 Doha Asian Games with my father’s sudden demise.
The urge in me to compete at the Games vanished and I decided to withdraw from the competition. I just wanted to stay home with my loved ones. But my family, especially my mother, despite the grief, urged me to fulfil my father’s dream. I won a bronze, which I dedicated to my father. It was a medal that I did not celebrate, but was just relieved to have won it.
Then came the Beijing Olympics disappointment. I was in great form, lekin kismat ne mera saath nahi diya (but fate was not on my side). From then I had a problem sleeping in the night. The fact that I had returned empty-handed haunted me. I would get up at odd hours and whether it was 2 or 3 am, I’d go and practice all alone.
Although I was heartbroken, I did not give up and started preparing for the 2012 Games. But a knee injury in 2009 came as a huge setback. People wrote me off, but I believed my career was far from over.
With unconditional support from the Mittal Champions Trust, I went to South Africa for treatment. I was there for six months during which I underwent two surgeries. Those days were very depressing and agonising apart from the physical pain, the mental agony of being away and living by myself was tough. During that period my grandmother who I was close to passed away. I wanted to comeback to see her for one last time, but my family and friends insisted that there was nothing I could do and I should stay on and focus on regaining my fitness. A gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010 motivated me to aim higher at the Olympics.
I’m glad I could fulfil my London dreams, if not, I would have been shattered. Even when I lost the initial round in London, I knew in the repechage round I would give it my all and win a medal for my country. Ever since I’ve returned to India, the response has been exhilarating. Life changed overnight. People now recognise me as the wrestler who won a medal for the country. That is very satisfying. I want to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics, but only time will tell whether I’ll make it there. Right now I’m looking at starting an academy to foster future wrestling champions for the country. The sport has given me a lot and it’s time for me to give back.