Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya has reached the Olympic final. With this, India’s fourth medal in the Tokyo Olympics has been decided. Ravi defeated Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan in the last 4 bout of 57 kg weight category. By winning this match, he has ensured one medal either gold or silver. Ravi has become only the second wrestler ever to reach an Olympic final. Before him, Sushil Kumar reached the final in 2012.
A day before the quarter-final match, Ravi, while talking on a video call with his younger brother and cousin, said, ‘I will show such a game that the world will keep watching…’.
Ravi’s journey to reach this point has not been easy. He and his father have fought a lot for this for many years. His villagers hope that with Ravi’s success, the government’s eyes will be on the bad situation there and the situation will improve.Ravi is the third Olympian of his village
Ravi Kumar is a resident of Nahari village in Sonipat district of Haryana. Before him from this village, Mahavir Singh (in 1980 and 1984) and Amit Dahiya (in 2012) have represented the country in the Olympics, but both of them did not succeed in winning the medal.
Father Rakesh has defeated poverty and hardships
His father Rakesh Kumar Dahiya has fought poverty and difficulties in real life to win and fight on Ravi Mat. Rakesh, who labored on leased (rent) fields, used to carry milk and butter for his son every day at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, 60 km from Nahari. For this, he would wake up every morning at 3.30 am and walk five kilometers to reach the railway station. Descending from Azadpur by train and then covering a distance of two kilometers, used to go to Chhatrasal Stadium.
When Ravi had to eat butter that fell on the ground
After returning, Rakesh worked in the fields. This was his routine for 12 consecutive years before the lockdown imposed due to Corona. Rakesh made sure that his son learned to respect his sacrifice. He said, ‘Once his mother made butter for him and I took it to the bowl. Ravi dropped all the butter on the ground to remove the water. I told him that we are able to get good food for him in very difficult times and he should not be careless. I told him not to let it go to waste, he would have to pick up butter from the field and eat butter.’
If Ravi wins, the electricity situation in the village will improve
Even now, in Ravi’s village, electricity is available only for two-four hours a day. The water condition is also not very good. Ravi’s villagers are hopeful that if Ravi wins the Olympic medal, the electricity and water situation will improve. Before him, wrestler Mahavir Singh had opened a veterinary hospital in the village. After Mahavir Singh represented the country twice in the Olympics, the then Chief Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal asked him about his desire and requested him to open a veterinary hospital in the village. The Chief Minister implemented this and a veterinary hospital was built.
Sushil’s coach has taught wrestling
Ravi has learned wrestling tactics from Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh. Satpal has also been the coach of double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar. Ravi has been taking training from Satpal since the age of 10.Ravi has won a medal in the world championship
Ravi Kumar is the bronze medalist of the World Championships held in Noor Sultan in 2019. Apart from this, he has also won two gold medals in the Asian Championships. He won silver at the World Junior Wrestling Championships in 2015.
