Gadag wrestlers lose training base as DYES shuts hostel

Gadag: The DYES runs a wrestling training facility and hostel for young wrestlers in Gadag, which has produced athletes who represented the country at the national and Asian championships.

Students from classes 5 to 10 were eligible to join the programme. However, the department has not appointed a trainer for nearly a year and it is now shutting the hostel facility as well. “Veteran wrestlers, coaches and parents fear the move could deal a major blow to wrestling in Gadag, where the sport already faces declining participation and support,” he added.Vasant P Siddammanahalli, president, Gadag district wrestlers welfare association, told TOI that the DYES has made wrestling training available only in Belagavi, Dharwad and Haliyal for students studying in class 8 to 10.

“Gadag district has been allotted wrestling and hockey for decades and cycling was added later. It has groomed many national and international wrestlers and hockey players. Neglecting the district’s tradition, the DYES has now dropped wrestling, though it has good infrastructure.

It has accorded cycling though it lacks infrastructure,” he added.Devappa Gaded, president, Gadag district Indian style wrestling pahalwans association, said, “As per the new DYES norms, young wrestlers of the district will be deprived of training and with that wrestling will become a thing of the past.

The govt should note that only poor and rural children chose wrestling, an Indigenous sports that demands physical and mental maturity,” he asserted.Wrestling enthusiast Krishna Hadapad, senior pahalwans Ramesh Bavi, Somappa Melmani, Balesab Nadaf, Parashuram Hatti, Mantesh Gunjal, Ravi Walmiki, Mabusab Hariwan, and others noted that HK Patil had taken interest to encourage wrestling by providing ‘Kusti Mane’ and other infrastructure in recent years.

“However, DYES did not appoint a coach for a year and now, it’s shutting the training. We have submitted memoranda to the govt but in vain,” they shared.Sharanu Gogeri, assistant director, DYES, Gadag, said, “It has classified hostels as foundational hostels for class 5 to 7 students; juniors for class 8 to 10 students; and seniors for students. Foundational sports hostels will have basic training. From class 8, they will get training for specific games. As per this reconstitution, Gadag district has got hockey and cycling for students of class 8-10. Among 100 sanctioned capacity of students, earlier there were over 30 students to train for wrestling, hockey and cycling.

Now 50 seats are reserved for hockey, 25 for cycling, and 20 for foundational hostel,” he explained.