Life comes full circle after grappling with infamy

New Delhi, Sumit Malik looks a satisfied man. A meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday was the icing on the cake for his grand show at the recent Commonwealth Games.
The 125kg wrestler from Karor village in Rohtak is basking in the limelight, but his career and reputation were on the line two years ago. He was among the four Indian wrestlers banned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in 2016 for forfeiting their bouts during the Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Malik had gone missing from the venue ahead of his repechage bout against Bulgaria’s Lyuben Borisov.
On Monday, Malik said his mind “wasn’t right” at the time. “I aggravated my back injury during the tournament,” Malik recalled. “The pain was too much, I couldn’t even walk. I wasn’t thinking right and left without telling anyone.”
“I underwent a surgery the same week,” the 25-year-old added. “Those who say I left because I was afraid are wrong. But had I fought that day, I would have qualified for the Rio Olympics. Five-six wrestlers who had earned qualifications in my weight division tested positive and I could have got one of the berths by default.”
After serving his ban, he was rehabilitated in the Indian squad and won a silver at the Asian Championships in New Delhi in 2017.
“I didn’t know whether my back would hold. But the medal did a lot for my confidence,” Malik said.
The Commonwealth gold has made him a star. It has gone a long way in healing his wounds. “What happened two years ago is past. I have come a long way since. Now I believe I can win more medals,” Malik said.
At Gold Coast, Malik’s first opponent, Cameroon’s Claude Kouamen Mbianga, forfeited the bout. Next up was reigning Games gold medallist Korey Jarvis of Canada. “I was nervous. Once I beat him, I knew I had a great chance to win the gold,” he said. He won 6-4 against Jarvis and then comfortably beat Pakistan’s Tayab Raza in his last bout.
The next big tournament for the burly wrestler is the Asian Games, to be held in Jakarta-Palembang from August 18 to September 2.
“I want to win gold. I don’t think or plan for a long term,” said Malik, employed with the Railways.
Gold in Gold Coast has got Malik a growing list of admirers. They sometime come bearing gifts. One fits right on his left wrist — a Swiss watch. “A friend gave me this. Don’t know the name of the makers. Do you like it?” says the man-mountain, well-liked now after flirting with infamy.