Are sports in India means only cricket and nothing else? This country which has in past, produced Milkha Singh, P.T Usha, Mary Kom and many others from different sports, who had earned glory for the nation in spite of all struggles. But sad plight is that the country or the system, which still doesn’t give the much needed encouragement and recognition to the sportsman from other sports.

One such tale is that of Jagbir Singh, who is a wrestler by passion. But his passion didn’t remain confined to him but has earned many golds and recognition not for the state but also for the country. But probably you may not know him. Go by all this pictures, you may not recognise this great hero of the country. Recently he bought Gold Medal, earning international recognition for the country in World Police Games, America, 2015, which went unnoticed.

 

 

Jagbir Singh was born in Haryana in the year 1979 in a small village named Mandi. From his initial days as the surrounding has occasional wrestling competitions, the youths of the village, were engaged in body building and wrestling apart from other works and studies. This is how Jagbir, had his early initiation in wrestling.

It continued till 1995 when finally he started the formal training for wrestling under the guidance of Coach Ranbir Singh Kundu in Mohali Chandigarh. He is now a trained and expert in Greeco Roman in Weight CAT 84 and 98 KG. He undertook rigorous training.

The journey that begins in the year 2002, when he participated in All India Police Games 2002 and earned the Gold Medal, has not stopped yet. Many National and International Medals followed. Recently, Jagbir brought glory to the country when he participated in World Police Games, America, 2015 and earned Gold Medal for the country. But still no newspaper, magazine or Television channel has find time or space for such positive and glorious story of this proud son of the country.

 

Achievements in wrestling:

1.  All India Police Games 2002: Gold Medal

2.  National Games 2003: Gold Medal

3.  National 2004: Gold

4.  All India Police Games 2004: Bronze Medal

5.  Asia Championship 2004, Kazakhstan: Participation

6.  World Cup, Poland: 4th Position

7.  All India Police Games 2005: Silver Medal

8.  National Games 2006: silver Medal9. Federation Cup, MAHARASHTRA 2006: Gold Medal

10. All India Police Games 2007: Silver Medal

11. National Games 2008: silver

12. All India Police Games 2010: Bronze medal

13. All India Police Games 2015:  Gold medal

14.  World Police Games, America, 2015: Gold Medal

 

But sad part is that rather than encouraging such glory, we are compelling them to develop distaste for the sport, they like most. As for Jagbir he cannot effort well to maintain his diet and his living by the meagre salary he gets as Assistance Sub Inspector of Haryana Police where he is working since Feb 2002. He Joined Haryana police in 2002 under sports quota.

For want of proper diet, his stomach developed infection a few years back, for which he was unable to play and participate in competitions for almost two years. I had to take complete rest for 2 long years; you can’t imagine the trauma i was going through during that time says Jagbir Singh.

Even during his initial days of struggle, he was denied access to many sporting platforms and once he was not allowed to participate in the competition, when he reached the venue, just late by 10 minutes, because he had to walk all the way from his home, for more than 10 kilometres to reach the venue, as he did not find any conveyance.

After his glorious victory in World Police Games, America, 2015 and after returning to India, when he went on to meet the Chief Minister of State Manohar Lal Khattar. The State Chief Minister appreciated Jagbir efforts in the International arena but didn’t announce any promotion or financial support for this sportsman. Speaking to Youthens, Jagbir Said “Sirf tariff karne se kya hoga, mujhe khel ke alava aapne ghar ko bhi dekhna hota hain, jo is salary se possible nahi, pata nahi aage kya hoga, khel paunga ki nahi”.

These are the words of a bright sportsman, which may fade away with time just because of little encouragement.

Although he want to play for the country and earn glory for the country, but don’t know how far he can continue, with such indifferent attitude of the government and the system.

His close friend and media professional Vishal Lather, too believes that it is injustice for Jagbir, while speaking to Youthens, he says “Sportsman like Jagbir, fades away just because of little encouragement from the government or system, it is therefore the responsibility of the media to bring out these unjust real tales of our sports heroes”.

Jagbir Singh may not be the only one sportsman in the country who has to face such uncertainties of life, even after earning glory to the nation. There are many such victims, recently when 2008 Olympic Medallist and Boxer Vijender Singh quit from Indian National Boxing to opt for Pro and joined Queensbury Promotion Boxing League in England. It has brought shame for all of us a nation. Vijender’s professional plunge means he would not be representing India at the Olympics. Even the national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said that it is bad news for the team overall. This may happen to Jagbir and many more like him in India, if we cannot recognise and respect our talents.

 

 

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