The unsung heroes

Last week, when most of the cricket-crazy nation was glued to the India vs South Africa T20 (which India lost), closer home, K. Sudheer Kumar quietly achieved glory for the nation. The 23-year-old made the country proud by winning two medals — a silver and a bronze — at the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Qualifiers held in Ludhiana recently.

As if ignoring Sudheer’s achievements wasn’t bad enough, no one really recognised his feat or gave him a warm reception when he arrived at his hometown, Nandyal.

“It’s disheartening,” shares Sudheer, adding, “But I can’t afford to think too much about it, feel sad and get bogged down. I need to move on; whether people recognise the achievement or not, my focus remains the same.  When I picked up the sport a few years back, I was all pumped up. Several people ridiculed that body building is about ‘eating dal and working out at the gym’, but it isn’t. I wanted to prove that, and my win is a first step in that direction. My aim is to be Mr Asia and Mr Olympia, for which I have to put in a lot of hard work.”

Further, Sudheer says, “Going unnoticed could also be because bodybuilding is a niche area. And while that thought keeps running at the back of my mind, the challenge lies in countering it and coming out successful.”

When Hyderabadi shuttler Srikanth Kidambi returned home recently after winning the Denmark Open and French Open back to back, (thereby becoming the only Indian to have won four Super Series titles in a single year), he did not get a hero’s welcome either. There were neither posters nor a crowd to root for him.

“But that doesn’t take away anything from me,” a nonchalant Srikanth responds, when asked about the reception.  

He further adds, “I never thought whether badminton or I would get recognition and fame. I started playing the sport for the love of it, and it grew into a passion. But the glory of any sport is proportional to the laurels and victories the players bring. Badminton is in a transition phase in the country, and I am glad to be a part of this change. The sport has evolved over the last few years, thanks to Gopi sir’s (Pullela Gopichand) efforts. But people recognise me every time I go out, and I am very happy about it. After cricket, badminton is slowly getting recognition as more and more people are playing this game, which is a great sign.”

Arjuna award winner and Indian woman wrestler Babita Phogat too rues that she went unnoticed after she won the gold at the Commonwealth Games (2014). She rose to fame only after Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, which portrayed the triumphant journey of the Phogat sisters.

“Only people in the wrestling fraternity knew me before Dangal and I was disappointed,” she laments, adding, “In cricket, there are only eight countries competing, but I have to compete against people from more than 70 countries, that too in different competitions to gain recognition. The attitude of the people must change.”

Players who got recognition due to films:  

•  Sandeep Singh : Former Indian Hockey captain — played by Diljit Dosanjh in the upcoming film, Soorma.
• Mary Kom: Five-time World Amateur Boxing champion — played by Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom.
• Geeta Phogat:  India’s first gold medalist in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games — played by Fatima Sana Shaikh in Dangal.
• Mir Ranjan Negi: Former Indian Hockey captain — played by Shah Rukh Khan in Chak De India.