Mahavir Phogat says BJP has promised to fulfil his plans of developing wrestling in Haryana

In spite of being in charge of the sports cell of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), Mahavir Phogat shifted his allegiance to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mainly because he believes that there is lack of development in wrestling in Haryana. The Dronacharya awardee wrestling coach, speaking to The Bridge from his residence in Haryana on Wednesday, claimed, “It is not that we have been completely deprived by JJP in terms of wrestling. We got preliminary ingredients that helped me to establish our wrestling centre in Balali. But since then, there has been no development of wrestling in the state.” Mahavir -- whose daughter, international wrestler Babita Phogat, also joined BJP on the same day in the presence of Union ministry of sports and youth affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in New Delhi -- explained saying,

“I am going to have a detailed discussion with the sports minister soon. I have some plans for the overall development of wrestling in my state. Mr Rijiju has promised me that most of my proposals will be fulfilled.”

Mahavir wants a wrestling academy of international standard in Haryana. He added, “With modern equipment and ultra-modern mats for practice as well as for playing matches, we need a complete and modern wrestling school in the state. There are around 80 students, including boys and girls in my wrestling centre presently. I want as much as possible boys and girls come up and join wrestling in my state so that the medal prospects increase in the future. But you need to have an ultra-modern and a big setup so that the number of students can increase.”

At the same time, Mahavir has plans to request the Union sports ministry to start allotting fund so that the number of quality coaches can be roped in for the wrestling school. The former wrestler, who once won many trophies and prize money, defeating opponents in the Akhara wrestling competitions held throughout the villages in Haryana, also wants to develop those akharas. Mahavir stated, “I want those akharas to be developed with infrastructures as well as trained coaches also as there are a lot of talented wrestlers who cannot be looked after.” Dronacharya awardee, Mahavir Phogat joins BJP Incidentally, Geeta Phogat, the eldest daughter of Mahavir, who was the first female Indian wrestler to have won Commonwealth Games in 2010 and became the first female wrestler to have represented India in Olympics seems to have said goodbye to wrestling. Dronacharya coach said, “After marriage and then being promoted as DSP in Haryana Police, Geeta has not been training properly. Even she has not taken part in any competition for almost the last one year.” Instead, Geeta has started coaching the young boys and girls in a Kharkhoda village. Following initiative taken by Mahavir, a wresting centre has already been built in Kharkhoda.