Dronacharya nominee Lalit builds on Chhatrasal legacy

He doesn't have the imposing presence of 'Mahabali' Satpal Singh the revered patriarch of Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. He doesn't even yell instructions from the sidelines while putting his wards through the paces. But when the mild-mannered Lalit Kumar speaks, the 250-odd eager trainees listen.

- Shantanu Srivastava

For 11 years now, Lalit's eye for talent and penchant for perfection have served Indian wrestling well, grooming a host of young men for greater glories.

"A lot of them started from nowhere and now have stable government or public sector jobs.

It is good to play a small part in their growth stories," Lalit says.

A hands-on coach who likes to pore over wrestling videos to keep him updated, Lalit follows the horses-for-courses policy when it comes to dealing with his wards.

Modern coaching, he insists, is all about flexibility, which means some boys need to be schooled the hard way while others can be taught with a quiet word.

"On the mat, I am neither their big brother nor friend. I am a silent observer who notices everything that goes on each mat in the hall. Our training is very technical and scientific. Wrestling is not all about brawn."