This Pune cop is a wrestler too — and all set to represent India at world championship in Canada

From 5 am till 8 am, Chaudhary trains with a coach at the Mamasaheb Mohol Kusti Sankul in Katraj. A second training session stretches from 3.30 pm till 6 pm. His diet is also focussed — lots of protein, vitamins and carbs in the form of two litres of milk, 1 litre badam thandai, soyabean, spinach, salad and apples and, on non-vegetarian days, boiled eggs, chicken and mutton.

Chaudhary says he is used to the intensity and pressure of preparing for a high-profile competition, pointing out that he had won the Maharashtra Kesari title three times in a row from 2014. And, to qualify for the world championship, he had to win four matches in the all-India wrestling police championship.

In between practice sessions, Chaudhary reports for duty. “Sometimes, if my duty does not allow me extra hours of practice, I manage it on Sunday,” he says, adding that after being selected for the world championship, his immediate seniors and top officials from Maharashtra police “have been kind enough” to allow him to take time off for practice.

Until recently, Chaudhary was posted as the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) with Pune City police. In the recent reshuffle of officers within Maharashtra police, he has been promoted and transferred as Additional Superintendent of Police with the State Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Chaudhary was born in Jalgaon, a small village in Maharashtra, where children start from an early age to play on mud because there was no mat surface to wrestle on. His father, sister and brother started wrestling when they were young, but Chaudhary took to the sport late as he was not much into it in the beginning but developed interest with time.

The cop-cum-wrestler has had to win many bouts outside the wrestling ring, too. For instance, the styles for mud and mat wrestling are so different that Chowdhary was refused admission in a prestigious institute in Pune. He also belongs to a low-income household and could not afford the mandatory entourage that surrounds every sports star — a trainer, a nutritionist, and a sponsor. “Before someone becomes a good player, they must invest a lot of money in these things. I had to spend a lot of money because Pune was expensive,” he says.

He hit back by building a reputation as a wrestler who wins. “Your life gets transformed in an instant. People in crowds begin to notice you. They approach you for photos,” he says.

After his consecutive wins at Maharashtra Kesari, Chaudhary began earning enough to support both his family and his dreams. But what is more important to him is the esteem with which he is regarded, he says. “When a girl from my village marries someone from another village, she says with pride that she belongs to the village of triple Maharashtra Kesari Vijay Chaudhary,” he says.

Chaudhary says that he was offered the job with Pune Police entirely because of his prowess in wrestling. “Most people assume that wrestlers are all about enormous bodies. I was also a good student and that’s why I received my position. I encourage many wrestlers to continue their education in addition to their sport to attain such positions,” he says.

For the Canada challenge, Chaudhary will be competing with players from other countries that have specialised mat training while he has undergone comprehensive mud training. “I am receiving training from my coach Rohit Patel in both mud and mat techniques for the world championship because I must use the same approaches,” he says.

Also Read

‘Love Jihad’, woman’s name, religious text painted on Pune footpath; poli...

3-day helmet compliance drive in Pune from today; 600 traffic cops on roa...

Fire in Pune timber market brought under control, no casualties reported

3 held in Pune after defence authorities find 2 dummy candidates during B...

The World Police and Fire Games, to be held at Winnipeg in Canada from July 28 to August 6, will also present Chaudhary with his first international police wrestling match. “I have spoken to former players and watched YouTube videos. They primarily adhere to quick techniques performed on mats, which differ greatly from mud. They can end the battle in 15 seconds and focus primarily on attacking with their skills. I am concentrating more on developing my stamina and new skills,” he says.