Indian Wrestling physiotherapist Manjul Nautiyal registers for fight to save India's Olympic berth

Have you ever heard about any support staff member – actually performing the ‘job’ the players would ‘normally do’? Take the case of Indian men’s wrestling team physiotherapist Manjul Nautiyal – whose primary responsibility is to ensure the country’s grapplers are in good shape – wore the Indian singlet at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Qatar last month. One may ask what was the ‘desperation’ to field the team’s physiotherapist in the tournament?

India’s participation was depleted after four Greco-Roman wrestlers did not get their visas on time, prompting the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to look for immediate alternatives since the rules state that the same number of wrestlers who compete at the continental championships will be allowed to participate in the World Championships — which serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The WFI, in a bid to avoid losing their Olympic quota, fielded physiotherapist Manjul Nautiyal and three members of the freestyle team in the Greco-roman event. Obviously, Nautiyal was in for a ‘huge surprise’ when he arrived in Qatar knowing little that he will be wrestling for the country.

The physiotherapist, who had no formal training in wrestling, was made to fight against Iraq’s Karar Abbas Mkasar Al Bethani in the 59-kg category and although the result was a foregone conclusion – he lost tamely, but the situation in which he made to take the mat will be remembered in Indian wrestling for a long time to come. It is a different matter altogether that the other three replacements also came a cropper in their respective bouts. The bout, as one would expect, was a one-sided affair as Nautiyal merely went through the motions before eventually settling for a defeat, lasting 12 seconds, losing 0-5 to Iraqi grappler.

“It was pure fear: Nautiyal”

Nautiyal reveals his fears after the bout, “I was terrified because there was some confusion that the opponent was not from Iraq but from Iran, a powerhouse in the sport. I told myself, ‘Iran. He will surely qualify for the final and I will have to fight two repechage bouts’.

“Luckily, it was just the one match for me. The coaches had told me I wouldn’t have to do anything as the other guy would finish the bout in seconds. But, back then, it was pure fear.”

However, the physiotherapist was proud of representing his country on the mat.

“Wearing the singlet and getting on the mat was a different experience. The wrestlers say I made my debut in India colours. I am proud of the fact as not many can claim that distinction,” Nautiyal expressed.

Nautiyal can be proud of one thing: he made his debut for Indian in men’s wrestling while serving as the team’s physio. One needs to applaud the WFI for their smart thinking as saving an Olympic quota was more important than the outcome of that bout in Qatar.

“There was no way we could allow anything to affect our Olympic quota and had to field our physio as our grapplers did not get their visas on time,” said a WFI official.