Wushu was in the running for 2020 Summer Olympics but didn't make the late cut. Karthik Raman explores whether this fringe sport has made inroads in India. He spoke to Delhi Wushu team which won 19 medals (8 gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze) at the Junior National Championship in Sundar Nagar, Himachal Pradesh to see the sports' impact
Sumit Pulami, 14 year-old, has had it tough from the beginning. "In school, friends used to bully me about practicing Wushu. They don't fancy the sport at par with the likes of cricket or football. But I told them one day I will give them a fitting answer," says Pulami.
And he shelled out a perfect reply to those bullies by winning a gold medal in a group event (Taolu) and a silver medal (in Jinashu) as well in the Junior National Wushu Championship held at Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh from 4th - 9th October.
However, proving few students wrong will not change the entire nation's perspective about the game as the popularity of the sport is still very low.
Sumit, eleventh standard student, is aware of the hard reality, but he's undeterred. He is determined to make a living out of the sport by one day becoming an international player.
Mohan Antil, who won silver in the 75 kilogram Sanshou category, feels the only way it can be accomplished is if the government starts supporting the sport like they do with cricket. "In government's eye every sport should be the same. They should treat all with respect," stressed Mohan.
Shashi Tamang, who won gold in the Daoshu event, says improving the infrastructure would also benefit them.
The 16-year-old Shashi, who resides in the Mukundpur area said before joining the Delhi Amateur Wushu Association (DAWA), he was trained by a local coach in a park in Model Town.
"Due to lack of practicing halls, I was forced to train in an open park. Even now it is difficult for me to travel to DAWA regularly so half the time, I train in the park." he said. "Thus increasing the number of practice halls is a must to help the sport grow."
Wushu is not just struggling to make a mark in India but throughout the world as the sport failed to make the cut for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Wushu was among the eight sports which had applied to be included in the 2020 Games in Tokyo, however International Olympic Committee (IOC) shortlisted skateboarding, surfing, baseball/softball, climbing and Karate.
However, Rajvir Singh, coach of the Delhi Wushu team, is not totally disappointed and tries to see the positive in the latest setback. "26 sports applied for the inclusion. Among the 26, Wushu made it till the last-eight, which in my eyes is progress. This shows that the sport's popularity is definitely improving," said Rajvir and reminded, "We should not forget that Wushu has been fighting for a berth only from 2008 Beijing Olympics."
He is satisfied with the progress the game has made in the country since its birth in 1989. "Wushu is part of the national games. SGFI included the sport in the national games. There is a team in the army and air force. Also Wushu players are getting jobs under the government quota."
He referred to the success Wushu has achieved in Asian games recently to show how much it has improved in the country.
"Since 2002, Wushu is the only martial art sport which has won medals in the Asian games for the country," he said.
At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Indian wushu team won a bronze medal. And that effort was improved at the 2010 Guangzhou Games where the team won a a bronze and a silver. At last years' Incheon Games, national team won two bronze medals. Meanwhile the other three martial arts sports — judo, karate and taekwondo — failed to win any medals in the Asian games during the last three editions.
Despite all the positives the coach can see, one cannot argue that the sport stays far behind cricket, hockey and football etc in terms of popularity. "The federation's current priority is to focus on the grassroot level to create more players and win many more medals. Then the next step is about increasing its popularity," said Rajvir.
