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14 SPORTS SOUTH ASIAN OBSERVER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017

Jinder Mahal meets Canadian Mahal to Maharaja:

politician Jagmeet Singh

SAO NEWS a wrestler's journey
TORONTO

WE champion, Jinder Mahal, and newly elected
leader of Canada's New Democratic Party,
WJagmeet Singh, were both in Vancouver a few
days ago or the 2017 "100-Year Journey" Gala.
The annual Gala honors pioneers of Canada's South
Asian community, of which both Jinder and Jagmeet are
celebrated members.
Jinder Mahal's family came to Canada in the 1960s. His
Uncle, The Great Gama, wrestled for many years in Stu
Hart's famous "Stampede Wrestling" in Canada.
Both Jinder Mahal and Jagmeet Singh are celebrated
people in Canada's growing South Asian community.
Meeting Jagmeet Singh was not Jinder's first recognition
from Canadian politicians.
He was celebrated in Alberta (his home province in
Canada) after winning the WWE championship as well.
Jinder has also received positive fan response every time
WWE has visited Canada since he won the championship.
The next most important step in Jinder's career is
WWE's upcoming tour of India. The WWE champion
recently toured the country to promote the shows
upcoming in December.
As WWE continues to make inroads towards
international expansion, India is a country they
particularly want to grow in. he modern-day maharaja, as his of his hulking 6ft, 5 inches frame. see now is totally different. I think
So far there is no word on whether any of the shows moniker goes, sat pretty on his "This was the 1990s, when guys like going away was the best thing that
from India will air on the WWE Network. A Jinder Mahal T"throne" at a hotel conference Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart ruled happened to me-I re-evaluated myself. I
WWE championship title defense from India would be room in Mumbai on an overcast Friday the ring. Then, there were guys like got motivated again, focused and more
something many wrestling fans would be interested in afternoon. By his side, resting on a The Rock and Stone Cold who captured determined because I knew that the
seeing. table, was his crown-a glittering mass my imagination. Just seeing these WWE is a place that rewards hard
I am not leaving with selectors' of gold-plated metal and leather, easily larger-than-life-characters had me work," he says.
recognizable to pro-wrestling fans as
He even considered starting a
hooked. I wanted to be like them-a
permission: Nehra the World Wrestling Entertainment champion." business. He found it difficult to walk
So alongside chasing a college
away from his passion, however, and,
(WWE) Championship belt.
This is what Jinder Mahal wrested degree, Mahal started training and one fine day, he decided to try again for
NEW DELHI: Veteran Ashish Nehra has mounted a on 21 May after upsetting Randy Orton competing, exploring anything that the riches of the WWE.
stinging counter-attack on chief selector MSK Prasad for and the fans at WWE's Backlash 2017 came his way. Given its rich tradition, "The drinking stopped completely, I
his comments on the seamer's retirement, saying he pay-per-view event, making the most of chasing wrestling in Calgary was akin started training again. I had to start
started playing without the selectors' permission and is some in-ring shenanigans and to kicking a football in Kolkata. from zero and worked my way up to
leaving it likewise. "interference" from a couple of Soon enough, he was turning up as where I am today," he says.
Nehra walked into cricketing sunset on Wednesday sidekicks. Tiger Raj Singh in Stampede A fitter, leaner Mahal soon became a
after an 18-year injury-ravaged international career, Such are the outlandish ways of the Wrestling, founded by Calgary local crowd favourite of sorts-a heel in WWE
which had witnessed many highs and lows. WWE, where wrestlers "perform" to a Stu Hart, whose best-known legacy is lingo, meaning one whom they loved to
"I heard this," Nehra said when asked about Prasad's storyline, scripted to perfection over his children, 1990s' heart-throbs Bret hate. Every once in a while, his script
comments that he was not going to be considered for the years. As the WWE looks to expand and Owen Hart. He earned his big sent out a subtle message on the
selection beyond the New Zealand T20Is. its popularity in the Indian market, break in the WWE in 2011. greatness of India and the success of
"I don't know. The chairman of selection committee has Mahal, the 50th WWE champion and Back then, another Indian wrestler, second-generation immigrants like
not spoken to me about this. You have asked me this the first of Indian origin, holds forth as the 7ft, 1 inch Great Khali, who was him, highlighting America's age-old
question, and I can only tell you about my interaction with an outsider who is on top of his game making waves with his beastly problem of xenophobia.
the team management. in a distant land. presence, took Mahal under his wing to Walking into the ring, at times with
"When I reached Ranchi, I told Virat about my plan, and Born Yuvraj Singh Dhesi to spice up affairs in the ring. While an entourage performing the bhangra,
his first reaction was, 'Are you sure? You can still play IPL. immigrant parents in Calgary, Canada, wrestling took centre stage, so did all he made it a point to portray his
You can play as coach-cum-player.' I said no. I am retiring Mahal grew up speaking Punjabi at things stereotypically "Indian". Mahal Punjabi heritage. A majestic beard
completely." home while imbibing a different stepped into the arena in a dazzling clubbed with a pagdi became a regular
The 38-year-old Nehra made it clear that he did not ask culture outside. Even in the 1970s and sherwani, which soon made way for feature, in addition to a new theme
for a farewell game, calling himself lucky that he got one 1980s, wrestling was a constant, given spandex and Punjabi rants. song composed by Ali Kaz, a Pakistan-
in front of his home crowd. that his uncle, Gama Singh, was a One antic even had him stepping Canadian rapper, and sidekicks in The
"I have been saying this again and again. Luckily this professional wrestler himself. into the ring and smacking Khali Singh Brothers, who are always on call
game happened to be in Delhi. I have not asked for a "He was my role model while square in the jaw to screams of to bail him out of tricky situations.
farewell game or anything. This is perhaps one way that growing up. He had many great bouts "beizzati karta hai!" (you have shamed Come December, he will return to
god has rewarded me for all the hard work I have put in in South Africa, and was a big star us) for kissing an unknown woman New Delhi to brawl in a title match
over the last eight-nine years. among the Indians living there. Even and "tarnishing" his "Indian heritage". against Kevin Owens. "I want to
"I hope Virat and coach Ravi Shastri are part of the today, I sit and watch my bouts with "He's an absolute legend, like an inspire the next generation of Indian
team management because those are the people I spoke to. him to pick up a useful tip or two," says older brother to me. I owe a lot to him," WWE superstars. There's already Jeet
I have not spoken to any selector over this issue." Mahal. Mahal says. In 2014, however, Mahal Rama and Kishan Raftar training at
He further added, "When I started playing cricket, I Breakfast-table conversations, then, found himself without a contract with the WWE Performance Centre. I'm
didn't take any selector's permission. When I am leaving, I were mostly about wrestling and the the WWE. Though he continued proud of Kavita Devi (who turned out
am not leaving with their permission." latest drama unfolding in the WWF wrestling elsewhere, the lack of in a flashy orange salwar-kameez,
Prasad had recently said that there was no assurance on (World Wrestling Federation, as the motivation to perform at the highest complete with a dupatta, at the
Nehra's availability for the first T20 International at the promotion was called then). level led to struggles with alcohol, fast recently held Mae Young Classic) who
Feroz Shah Kotla. "We have clearly communicated to the "Punjabi with parents, English with food and a bulging waistline. is the first Indian woman to sign with
player, ie: Ashish Nehra, and to the team management that siblings," he says, breaking into a smile "When your whole life gets taken WWE. I want to be the shaan of India,
we are only looking at him till the New Zealand series," that attenuates the intimidating aura away, it's tough. The Jinder Mahal you you know, the pride," he says.
Prasad had said. Nehra said he was convinced about his
decision to call it quits and was happy to see the progress Had to dig in deep to win Olympics bronze medallist accrued 617.6 was heartening to get my first medal of
made by Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside Jasprit Bumrah, points after 60 shots in the qualifying the season. I was very disappointed at
two of the best seam bowlers around in these conditions. silver: Gagan Narang round. In the final, Gagan fetched 246.3 missing a medal in Rio in the very same
"When I went there, I went with my plan. I felt that points, which were 1.4 short of the gold event," Gagan told media on Thursday
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ready. If you had seen earlier, CHENNAI: Gagan Narang brought all winner Dane Sampson. Gagan's evening. The Hyderabad shooter felt the
Bumrah and I have been playing. his experience to the fore to win silver in teammate Swapnil Kusale settled for the tournament, a test event for the
"Even today people were wondering if Ashish Nehra the men's 50m rifle prone event of the bronze. upcoming Commonwealth Games in
will play or not, but if I was in the 15 today, I was obviously Commonwealth Shooting "The conditions were challenging as it Australia next year, did provide an idea
going to play. I didn't come to just look around," Nehra told Championships at the Gold Coast in was extremely windy. I had to dig in deep on the challenges that awaited the
reporters. Australia on Thursday. The London and bring in all my experience. But it shooters.