The Baghpat sporting story: How villages produced 7 Arjuna Awardees

In 1987, Subhash Verma became the first sportsperson from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh to win an Arjuna Award. Growing up in Malakpur village, Verma trained at a local akhara, although he had limited exposure to better training partners and facilities. He moved to Delhi in 1987 to pursue serious training with stronger training partners and experienced coaches.

Verma's success inspired six more athletes from Baghpat to follow in his footsteps, including three wrestlers, two shooters, and a para-athlete. The latest addition is Akhil Sheoran, a shooter selected for the Arjuna Award in 2021.

The success of Baghpat's athletes in the sporting world is deeply rooted in the village's sporting culture, passed down through generations. Many athletes follow a traditional path, where family members contribute financially and physically to support their training. Former champions have also taken up the role of mentors, establishing their own academies to nurture the next generation of sporting talent.

Despite the development of sporting infrastructure in Baghpat, athletes still rely on external coaching, equipment, and high-level competition in cities like Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. The Arjuna awardees highlight the lack of proper wrestling mats, inadequate coaching, and limited access to modern training techniques within Baghpat's villages.

Former champion Shokendra Tomar launched a campaign to raise funds for wrestling mats and stadium construction in his district. However, the facilities in Baghpat have since fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance.

For Vivek Singh, a shooter from Johri village, the journey to becoming a national champion took place primarily in Delhi, but his father later set up a shooting range on family land in Baghpat. Despite the advancements in facilities, Singh acknowledges a significant difference in the quality of equipment and resources available in Delhi versus Baghpat.

In summary, the sporting success of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh can be attributed to the strong sporting culture woven into the village's life, with families contributing to athletes' training and development. While progress has been made in building sporting infrastructure within Baghpat, athletes continue to face challenges in accessing specialized coaching and high-level competition outside their district.