Controversial Paths of Indian Wrestlers and Shooters Toward Olympic Glory

This article delves into the tumultuous journeys of Kaka Pawar and Pappu Yadav in Indian wrestling, highlighting the controversies and political battles that characterized their careers. It also addresses the broader issues within Indian sports, particularly wrestling and shooting, as athletes face bureaucratic and doping scandals en route to the Olympics.

Kaka Pawar and Pappu Yadav were largely obscure figures until the 1996 Olympics when they battled to represent India in the 48kg wrestling category. Their tale of fierce competition and subsequent controversy at the IG Stadium remains etched in the annals of Indian wrestling. While Yadav won the trial bout, he failed to clear the weigh-in, preventing him from competing in Atlanta.

The saga of wrestling controversies has been a recurring theme in Indian sports. Six Indian wrestlers aiming for glory at the Paris Olympics have had to overcome significant hurdles, including a year-long protest that disrupted their preparations. The sports scene witnessed the bitter struggle between Pawar and Yadav, driven by state lobbies and political influence.

Indian wrestling's history of scandals continued with Narsingh Yadav's doping controversy ahead of the Rio Olympics after beating two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar for a spot on the team. The current leadership of the Wrestling Federation of India is striving to restore order. Meanwhile, weightlifting and shooting, too, have had their shares of doping scandals and internal conflicts, affecting India's chances at the Games.

(With inputs from agencies.)