Rewind 2024: Year of disappointments and controversies for Indian wrestling

Since the legendary Sushil Kumar emerged triumphant at the 2012 Olympics in Beijing, Indian wrestlers have had a massive impact at the international level.

- AJEYO BASU

Over the next several years, it seemed that Indian wrestling was on the way towards finally achieving its massive potential of becoming one of the leading global powers in this macho sport.

However, this hard-earned progress has been stopped in its tracks by that familiar bane which afflicts every sport in India - politics. The year 2024 saw the topsy-turvy political drama in Haryana create havoc in the Indian wrestling arena during the run-up to the assembly elections in the state and the preceding Lok Sabha polls. As 'pehlwans' from 'akhadas' across the length and breadth of Haryana and the national capital region took to the streets to protest against alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers by then Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, India's preparations for the Paris Olympics were thrown to the winds.

Not surprisingly, the Indian campaign in the wrestling arena at the 2024 Olympic Games fell flat on its face. A hard-earned bronze medal in the men's 57 kilogram freestyle category by Aman Sehrawat saved the Indian wrestling delegation from the embarrassment of returning empty-handed from Paris.