Training, diet, and a fight against finances: The life of a pahalwan

"I want to become like Sushil Kumar," says 9-year-old Yash, fighting back a giggle while surrounded by a group of young "pahalwans" in training, all aged between 9 and 12.

Far away from home at the Chhatrasal Stadium here, the young boy from a small village of Asoda in Bahadurgarh, Haryana is dreaming of things that not many nine-year-olds dream of.

With Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat grabbing gold and Divya Kakran a bronze at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia, the city's "akhadas" are buzzing with energy.

Meenakshi Gahlout, a 20-year-old wrestler from Jhajjar, Haryana, is among some 40 young wrestlers at the Master Chandgiram Akhara, the first such centre to train women wrestlers in the Training under Sahdev Singh Balyan, Gahlout, who joined the akhada only a month ago after a gap of three years following an injury, likes the practice schedule and coaches here.

"Coaching is tougher and advanced here. We go for running, sprint, then PT and bouts on the mat. They prepare us for the next level competitions with rigorous training," she says.

A usual day begins at 5am with a run. Once a week, all the wrestlers go for cross-country running for 7-8km. The morning ends with an exhausting session of pushups and dips.

To support the strenuous regime, the body is replenished with milk, eggs, fruits, juice, glucose and protein supplement.

Another wrestler, Amit Kumar (22), from Sonepat, has been training for the last eight years.

Inspired by his uncle, who trained under the legendary Chandgi Ram back in the day, he wants to become an Olympian.

"I have yet to go a long distance, make it through national championship, then international. But eventually I want to make the country proud the way Bajrang Punia did."