Sports Minister snubbed World Champion Wrestler Sushil Kumar's trainer Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh, at a photoshoot
Sports Minister snubbed world champion wrestler Sushil Kumar's trainer Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh, at a photoshoot
While Commonwealth Games is on top of everyone's mind, athletes are often treated as second-class citizens in this country. A case in point is the current controversy surrounding Sports Minister M S Gill. The minister apparently insulted Satpal Singh, former wrestler and now personal trainer of world champion Sushil Kumar, when he asked him to move out of the frame during a photoshoot, in favour of Yashvir, the coach of the Indian team. 
BEFORE AND AFTER: Sports Minister M S Gill with wrestler Sushil Kumar,
who became the first Indian to win a World Wrestling Championship gold
medal, and his trainer Satpal Singh at Gill's residence in New Delhi on
Tuesday. pic/Imtiyaz Khan
The incident took place when Sushil, who won Gold at the Moscow World Championships on Sunday, visited Gill's official residence to meet him along with his personal trainer and the national team coach.
After congratulating Sushil and seeing his medal, Gill started looking for the coach to stand beside them during the photoshoot. When Satpal, who was conferred the Dronacharya award last year, appeared on the scene, Gill told him to step aside and instead called Yashvir, who accompanied the Indian team during the event in Moscow.
"I want the coach who went to Moscow with him," Gill said before Yashvir stood beside Sushil for the session. However, Gill later also requested Satpal to join them. Asked for his reaction on the incident, Gill said: "I don't have to answer."
The shabby treatment to Satpal did not go down well with Sushil who said the incident was unfortunate. "He is my Guru and there are around 100 wrestlers who take lessons from him. If a Guru is not respected then it is natural for a disciple to feel bad. What happened was not correct," he said.
But Satpal, a gold medallist from the 1982 Asian Games, chose to play down the incident. "I am not offended by Gill's action. He is elder to me and I respect him. Sushil Kumar is my product and I have produced many world class wrestlers. Sushil is an example of that. Whatever the Sports Minister does, I will accept it as his blessings."
Forgotten hero
Satpal Singh was a Gold Medalist in 1982 Asian Games and a Bronze medalist in 1974 Asian Games.
He now works as Deputy Director of Education, Delhi. Singh is also the President of School Games Federation of India. He runs an Akhada for coaching of wrestling with fellow coach Virender Singh from 1988 in Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. He trained Olympic bronze medallist, Sushil Kumar for the Beijing Olympics 2008.
He was awarded Dronacharya Award in 2009 by the Indian Government. Earlier in 1983 he has been awarded by the Padma Shri award.
WHEELS FALLING APART
After Cycling Federation of India (CFI) shifted its preparatory camp for the Commonwealth Games to Patiala from Delhi, top CFI officials slammed the functioning of both Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). CFI secretary general Karambir Singh said that his cyclists were given shabby treatment during the camp in the Capital. It may be recalled that, of the 27-member team, five players namely Paramjit Singh, Helen, Sayona, Somvir and Vinod Malik were diagnosed with dengue. While another 11 cyclists contacted eye flu, and a further two were down with stomach ailments, which had an adverse effect on the team's preparation for the Games. The conditions proved to be so hostile for the elite players who were gearing up for top class competition that almost entire team including the two coaches fell ill. While others have been reported out of danger, Helen is still in one of the Delhi's hospital and under observation. The rest of the team members have been shifted to Patiala.
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