What an astonishing run it was for Rahul Aware in the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast in April. Four games, four wins in the 57 kg wrestling topped with a gold medal and a hero’s reception in Pune. He could extend his feat at the Asian Games as well but the grappler decided to stay away and protest against the Wrestling Federation of India for exempting four wrestlers from the trial for their past records. Interestingly, WFI officials say that they recommended Aware to lose weight to fit in the right category since he is vying for the 61-kg place.
In his resentment, Aware did not show up at the trials that were held in Sonepat last month. Sushil Kumar, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia got direct entries in the squad for the Asiad for their performances. Aware who won a gold medal in CWG just months ago fancied similar treatment from the federation.
WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar backed Sushil as the country’s best hope of winning a gold. “Federation knows that there is no one better than Sushil,” he said on Wednesday justifying the decorated wrestler’s selection. Tomar was present in the city for an event that announced Tata Motors’ sponsorship with WFI.
Tomar also pointed out Aware’s performance in Asian Championships. The wrestler was knocked out in pre-quarterfinals in the 57 kg. “He (Aware) was not good enough (in the Asian Championships). He is having trouble losing weight. We gave him enough time for another trial but he did not show up,” he said.
One of the very few wrestlers from Maharashtra, Aware accepts that he was given time but it was an injury that kept him away and did not want to risk it further. “At first I wanted the same exemption as others. Since I did not get that, I asked them for two weeks of time for another trial. In that period, I felt that my knee is hurting and did not want to aggravate it further since World Championships are approaching this year and Olympics qualifiers will begin next year,” says Aware.
Responding to the subject of shedding the kilos, Aware states that he is trying to stay in the 61-kg category since Sandip Tomar sealed the 57kg place in the Sonepat trials. They were conducted to determine the squad for the Asian Games and World Championships that are scheduled later this year.
“I don’t have a chance in 57 (kg) anymore. He (Sandip) got his place already. Only for the World Championships, I am staying in this category and no one has told me to lose weight,” he says.
“I defeated all of them (wrestlers in 57 kg) with one-sided wins for the CWG trials. It was only my injury that kept me away from Asiad, I will bounce back for World (Championships) and Olympics next year,” says the Pune-based grappler.
WFI’s concern to get him to fit in his original category is for the reason that 61kg bouts are not a part Olympics. “61 (kg) is not valid in many competitions. We have wrestlers in each category and Rahul fits in 57 (kg),” said Tomar.
Since the WFI is continuing with the tradition of sending the wrestlers on whoever earns the Olympic quota discarding their form, Aware has his chance.
