India’s rural wrestlers pinned down by coronavirus pandemic

Lockdowns erode their income, including from bouts at village fairs that were cancelled because of the health crisis

With taleems - training schools - shut because of the Covid-19 lockdown, only those living there could train, and only indoors. Sanket Jain for The National

Wrestlers with their coach, Maruti Mane, centre, the Juna Hanuman taleem in Pargaon village of Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district. Sanket Jain for The National

Sachin Salunkhe, like thousands of rural wrestlers, has to work a number of jobs to make ends meet and fund his diet and training. Sanket Jain for The National

Sachin Salunkhe drags Mr Mane's 20-year-old son Shankar in one of the training exercises. Sanket Jain for The National

Two wrestlers prepare to grapple in the local form of wrestling known as Kushti. Sanket Jain for The National

Every day wrestlers begin their training as early as 5 in the morning and have practise bouts at least thrice a day. Sanket Jain for The National

Children as young as 10 begin training for wrestling and adhere to a strict discipline. Sanket Jain for The National

Before starting their training, every wrestler touches the feet of vastaad (coach) as a tradition. Sanket Jain for The National

Some wrestlers and wrestling schools receive support from enthusiasts or local companies. Sanket Jain for The National

Rope climbing is a common exercise to help wrestlers develop a firm grip. Sanket Jain for The National

Wrestlers cover themselves with mud before a bout, ensuring they maintain their grip. Sanket Jain for The National

The wrestlers train on earthen pits that cost at least 50,000 rupees a year to maintain. Turmeric, curd, ghee, spices, and other natural curatives are added to the soil. Sanket Jain for The National

Every day wrestlers need to spend at least 500 rupees on food to maintain their weight, fitness and stamina. Sanket Jain for The National

With the wrestling season suspended, rural wrestlers are finding it tough to continue their training. Sanket Jain for The National

Wrestling matches held at village fairs remain a major source of income for the wrestlers, who then use the prize money for the upcoming season’s training. Sanket Jain for The National

Wrestler Sachin Salunkhe has not grappled in six months. But not because of a shoulder dislocation, ligament tear, or a fracture, it is the splintered rural economy that makes him work 16 hours a day to feed his family.

Salunkhe, 26, who is from Pargaon village in Kolhapur district of western India’s Maharashtra state, has been a wrestler for 13 years and won numerous accolades. His career, like those of thousands of other rural wrestlers, is now on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian government declared a 21-day lockdown on March 24, restricting the movement of 1.3 billion people and curbing all economic activities. The lockdown was later extended by 10 weeks, crippling Salunkhe's wrestling career.

Salunkhe, who also works as a security guard at a private university, had to find more work to support his family of five.

For half the rate of his usual employment, he took on agricultural work for eight hours a day, bringing in 150 rupees ($2) or less.

The last time he fought was on February 21 in the nearby village of Kini in Kolhapur district, where he won about $25 after wrestling for 25 minutes.

After nearly a year of the coronavirus pandemic, this temporary bandage to his income is looking more permanent.

Salunkhe cannot afford the time to train and the cash to feed himself the 3,500 to 3,700 calories needed each day to train efficiently. He barely makes 450 rupees a day despite working two jobs.

"Every day, a wrestler has to spend at least 500 rupees on food," he told The National.

His coach, Maruti Mane, 50, said: “We can’t train them as required. They aren’t fit now, nor is their stamina enough to wrestle.”

Wrestling in red clay pits was popularised in Kolhapur by the ruler Shahu Maharaj. During the late 1800s, several wrestling schools known as taleems (Urdu for education) were built in Kolhapur that are functional even today.

Villages in western Maharashtra hold a jatra (annual fair) where kushti (wrestling) held in the open air remains the centre of attraction. Wrestlers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and a few African countries are in great demand.

It takes a poor crop or a natural disaster to disrupt the wrestling events that start in August and last for 10 months. The prize money in these bouts can range from $25 to $7,000, depending on the wrestlers and the amount pledged by farmers and local people.

"A normal wrestler can earn as much as $680 in a season, and it can go as high as $27,225 for the elite wrestlers," Mr Mane told The National. This money supports them and funds their training for the next season.

Covid-19 and the measures taken to combat its spread caused the Hanuman taleem in Pargaon village to shut for more than six months, for the first time in more than a century.

“Normally during this time, the taleem walls are filled with posters of wrestling events from across Maharashtra,” Mr Mane said.

Mr Mane, who has trained more than 1,000 wrestlers in 25 years, has never seen a disaster like this. “Only the ones who are privileged can survive.”

Salunkhe’s situation bears this out: even if he practises for just four hours each day, that leaves only four hours for eating, sleep, travel and other chores.

Meanwhile, the top wrestlers can devote as much as eight to 10 hours a day to training without worrying about the costs, which can go as high as $275 a month.

Salunkhe now faces tremendous pressure from his family to quit the sport. “I love wrestling, and that’s why I practise,” he said.

Mayur Bagde, 20, is a fellow wrestler from the same village who also works as a fisherman and agricultural labourer. With no means of getting to fish markets in the lockdown, he had to completely abandon his training diet.

“Even if we train, it’s not helping much,” said Bagde, who estimates he has lost a year’s income because of the pandemic.

“A normal wrestler can at least contest 60 matches of 30 minutes each in a season,” Mr Mane said.

“Even if you lose the match, the organisers give 25 per cent. There [in cities], they bid a farewell saying good luck for the next match.” Mr Mane, who does not charge for coaching, now fears the sport will go into decline as rural wrestlers quit the sport.

Mr Mane has worked as a watchman at a local hospital for the past three decades.

“I haven’t been paid my salary for the past six months,” he said.

It is Mr Mane's passion that has kept wrestling alive in his village.

“Every day, he ensures everyone trains and even visits their house if wrestlers aren’t keeping well,” said Amol Sawant, a retired state-level wrestler.

There are 40 wrestlers from the ages of 10 to 30 training under Mr Mane, of whom 12 stay in the taleem. Usually, industrialists and enthusiasts cover their expenses, while a few sugar factories pay a monthly stipend of about $14. After successive triumphs, Mr Mane’s son Shankar, 20, was promised a stipend from a renowned sugar factory. “I haven’t received any stipend for a year,” he said.

Mr Mane is not surprised. “Who pays attention to the wrestlers training in rural taleems,” he said, capturing the grim reality for a sport with a history of more than 300 years.