Gill snubs Sushil’s coach, announces Rs.1 million for the wrestler

NEW DELHI - After former All England badminton champion Pullela Gopichand, wrestling coach Satpal Tuesday was the latest victim of sports minister M.S. Gill’s ignorance.

Satpal, an Asian Games gold medallist and coach of world champion wrestler Sushil Kumar, was snubbed by Gill at his residence in the morning when the minister asked him to step aside during the photo opportunity with Sushil, who called on Gill after returning from Moscow Tuesday.

The embarrassing moment left both Sushil and Droncharya awardee Satpal shocked.

“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,” Sushil later told a channel.

During the photo opportunity, Gill started looking for the coach to stand beside them and when Satpal stepped in, Gill told him to step aside and called only Yashvir, who was the coach of the Indian team during the World Championship in Moscow.

“I want the coach who went to Moscow with him,” said Gill.

Gill, who announced a cash award of Rs.1 million for the grappler during the event, later requested Satpal to join them, but the latter was hurt.

“I did not like it. But this is a happy occasion, so let’s talk about Sushil’s achievement,” Satpal said.

Sushil credited his success to Satpal, who has been his coach since childhood.

“I have a lot of respect for him. He has trained me since childhood,” Sushil said.

In 2008, Gopichand had a similar embarrassing experience when he came to meet Gill along with Saina Nehwal after the Beijing Olympics where the latter reached the quarterfinals.

Gill unsure of Gopichand’s credentials, asked the All England Champion “who are you”.