Bareilly: It was dark clouds and drizzling rain at the Jat Regimental Headquarters in Bareilly this August morning, as officers began the wreath laying ceremony at the Regiment’s memorial. A few hundred meters within the complex, young wrestlers prepare themselves to fight each other – the regiment is also an important foundation in the sports ethos of the Indian Army.
Wreaths are laid at the memorial with a cannon salute and a ceremonial march of Regiment Commandant Brigadier Adarsh Butel. Though the morning begins on a serious note, enthusiasm is building among the officials in the race for India’s 75th year.th year of independence. Well, as the ceremony ends, the clouds begin to partake in the clear skies.
India’s post-colonial military history is tied to the valor and service of the Jat regiment—be it Battle of Dograi During the 1965 war or the 1971 war. But the regiment has also earned a reputation on the battlefield from some of the toughest playing fields in the world.
But before the medals comes the sweat and a rigorous training regime that produces world class athletes.
The Jat regiment nurtures champion athletes, especially wrestlers, who deploy a two-stage intake process.
“Young boys between the ages of 8-14, who show potential in sports, especially wrestling, are inducted into the Regiments Boys Sports Company (BSC). As a result they are trained, taught and educated in the regiment,” Major Purnvir Singh, Subedar of the Jat Regiment, tells ThePrint.
“Many have become champions through BSc, and once they are of eligible age, they are drafted into the army,” says Singh.
“Apart from BSc, the regiment focuses on mentoring wrestlers already in the army who have the potential to become champions. Since 2013, we have been serving as the Green Node for the Army Wrestling setup. Essentially, wrestlers are sent here to train, level up and acquire skills. Once they start winning medals, they are shifted to the Red Node (for senior athletes) Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune,” says Subedar Ajit Kumar, head coach of the Green Wrestling Node.
The regiment’s champion athletes include Olympian wrestler Subedar Mukhtiar Singh, two-time Commonwealth gold medalist (1966 and 1970), Subedar Singh. Bhim singhHigh jump gold medalist at the 1966 Asian Games, and more recently Subedar Sandeep Kumar, Bronze winner in the 10 kilometer race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. there also Havildar Ravinder Khatri Who qualified for the 86kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the Rio Olympics.
The regiment has also produced several junior and national champions, such as Ankit, an 18-year-old gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. Over time, the regiment has trained, inspired and motivated these athletes in varying capacities.
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International Champion from Boys Sports Company
A few hundred meters from the formal lawn is the main exercise centre, which consists of two buildings. The first one has Muktiar Singh wrestling arena. Facility equipped with sparring mats, climbing ropes, spectator areas and high windows through which sunlight falls.
The second building, adjacent to the wrestling ground, has a narrow entrance, equipped with an aluminum glazed double door, and resembles a barracks that has been converted into a gym. However with all the cables and machines modern athletes require.
On the wrestling field, two young wrestlers clash in the background, moving from one scuffle to another. “We train around thirty young boys,” says BSC head coach Subedar Jasbir.
After the talent discovery, there is a physical and character test of the pool of young boys; Based on these, we include them in B.Sc, explains Naib Subedar Rakesh Kumar, a coach of B.Sc.
The primary goal of B.Sc is to develop champion wrestlers for the army and ultimately the country. Those who start performing early and win medals are drafted into the military; Some are even transferred to ASI to develop their talents and make them compete at the international level.
The day of a young BSc starts early. They report for practice at 05:30 am. The morning session continues till 8 am. This is followed by academic classes which last till 1 pm. Karthik, a young BSc member from Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh, explains that the boys come back at 5 pm for practice, which goes on till 7 pm.
Education is central to the program of the B.Sc. In the regiment campus, full attention is paid to boys to get education at par with the school curriculum. The school started math classes for BSc, while ThePrint toured the regiment.
“Training for boys is age and strength wise. When boys are young, we focus on wrestling technique, mat strategy, flexibility and endurance. They are also made to play other sports to develop their sportsmanship,” explains head coach Jasbir Singh.
Sometimes, BSCs are also created to compete with older wrestlers who are part of the Green Node. Another wrestling coach from the regiment, Subedar Paramjeet, says competing with fitter and stronger wrestlers helps them develop their skills. Once boys get older, usually over 14, they begin to focus on weight training and increase the intensity of their wrestling coaching.
The carefully designed program for B.Sc. is bringing results of competitions at both national and international level. Lalit Kumar recently won a bronze medal in the 48 kg freestyle category at the Under-17 Wrestling World Championships.
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Nutrition of Green Node wrestlers
The Jat Regiment is also the Green Node for Army Wrestling apart from developing talent through B.Sc.
Back at the gym, wrestling coach Naib Subedar Deva Ram, originally from The Grenadiers, says, “There are around 40 athletes training with us here at the Green Node. Our aim is to train them for Army Championship, Service Championship and civilians.
The average age of wrestlers training at the green node is between 18-30. “Those who come first in the Army Championship go to ASI Pune. Those who are in second place, come here. Consider it a feeder academy for the Red Node,” says Deva Ram.
Among the wrestlers at Green Node is Naib Subedar Basant, who is over 6 feet 5 inches tall, who competes in the 130 kg freestyle. “Apart from coaching and training us, the Army takes care of all the needs during injuries and rehabilitation,” says Basant, who has competed and won medals in national and inter-service competitions.
Essentially, the Green Node aims to increase and build the pool of wrestlers for the military to compete in international events including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics.
5 Maratha Naib Subedar Laxman Pawar, a coach at Green Node, says, “Training involves developing intense power, speed and endurance. We also focus on developing wrestlers’ motor abilities and technique work on the mat.”
A general consensus among coaches from Green Node is that a major change due to training, up-skilling and preparation at the Jat Center is that now wrestlers have developed an attitude where they compete only to win medals. , regardless of the scale of the competition, international or domestic. No one is competing just for “experience”.
“Essentially, we hope to move all wrestlers from the green to the red within a year or two of training in Pune,” says Ajit Kumar, head coach of Node.
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future plans for the center
A few feet from the ceremonial lawn is the office of Subedar Major Puranveer Singh of the Regiment Centre, which is situated behind an intricate wooden desk. Commenting on the regiment’s glorious history, Singh says: “The Jat Regiment has always nurtured national and international athletes. We will continue to do so and develop and build the BSc program and green node for wrestling.
Deepak Punia, a gold medalist in the 86kg freestyle at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, also trained briefly in the Jat regiment. Subedar Sandeep, ASI was here even before it was shifted to Pune, indicating the regiment’s indelible link to the sports achievements of the Army.
The Jat regiment will soon be the green node for Kabaddi.
“Our ambition is to produce good athletes and sportspersons who can bring laurels to the country. Our identity is tied to the sport,” says Puranveer Singh.
(Edited by Anurag Choubey)