Gill snubs gold medalist wrestler Sushil Kumar’s coach Satpal

NEW DELHI - In a setback to wrestler Sushil Kumar’s celebrations after winning gold medal in the world championship in Moscow, his coach Satpal Singh had to suffer embarrassment on Tuesday when Union Sports Minister M.S.Gill turned him away from a photo opportunity in the national capital.

Satpal Singh, a Dronacharya awardee, has been a highly respectful wrestler of the country. He was a Gold Medalist in 1982 Asian Games and a Bronze medalist in 1974 Asian Games.

The incident occurred in full media glare, as journalists were about to click a group photo of officials with Sushi Kumar at Gill’s residence.

Gill asked the Satpal to step aside while he himself posed for the camera along with Sushil.

He later chose to invite Coach Yashwir, who accompanied the Indian team during the event in Moscow for the photo session while still keeping Satpal away from all the action.

“I don’t know why he did that. You have to ask him, my job is to coach. I coached Sushil for so many years and I will continue to produce more wrestlers,” said Satpal, Dronacharya awardee later.

Responding to the incident, Sushil Kumar said that he was hurt by MS Gill’s actions.

“Satpal has been my coach for the past 13-14 years. He is coach to over 900 kids. If a coach is insulted then his pupil also feels insulted,” Kumar said.

For MS Gill though it must have been a case of Deja vu, considering he had infamously snubbed Saina Nehwal’s coach Gopi Chand when the two had come visiting him last year, asking only the second Indian to win the All England Championship to introduce himself, an NDTV report stated. (ANI)