New Delhi, June 11 -- At daybreak, a smattering of children quietly emerge from their homes and make their way out of dusty bylanes. Their eyes groggy, their ears swollen and their bodies battered; they dutifully march on to the nearest akhada (mud pit). Mitti (soil), they say, is sacred; and so when mitti calls, they answer. The day has only just begun in Haryana's hinterlands. Last month's wrestling trials for the Asian Games revealed a telling statistic. All 18 selected were from Haryana. Tell that to a Haryanvi wrestler of any vintage, and they simply shrug their shoulders. At the 2024 Olympics, 24 out of India's 117-athlete contingent (20%) came from Haryana. Among the medallists (individual sports), Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, and Aman Sehrawat were from Haryana. For five consecutive Olympics starting Beijing 2008, Indian wrestlers have not returned empty-handed. This success is not only a reminder of the state's dominance but also a hat-tip to a primitive, Spartan system that cocks a snook at structured, data-driven, analysis-heavy modern sporting models. It's a seemingly disparate, disoriented system that somehow comes together Olympic cycle after Olympic cycle. From Bhagana to Balali, Chhara to Rithal, this unintended symphony, this unerring, almost monastic submission forms the beating heart of Indian wrestling. For anyone who has been to these parts, the spiritual devotion to the brutal art offers a peculiar paradox. Akhadas are where the quiet ones find their voice; some even find their purpose. For Bajrang Punia, it was a way out of penury. For Aman Sehrawat, it healed the grief of losing his parents. And for countless women, it liberated them from the prisons of patriarchy. "Wrestling thrives in Haryana because it is a sport of dehat (village) . You don't need an investment, equipment or shoes. All you need is a loincloth," says Bajrang, one of India's most decorated wrestlers. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist grew up in Chhara village in Jhajjar district where "everyone wrestled". Former national coach Kuldeep Sehrawat offers another explanation. "Wrestling is a daily routine here; you don't really think before getting into it. Most households have cattle, so children get a dairy-rich diet. Once they come to academies, we look for physique, speed, and endurance. Skills, technique and strength can be worked on later," Kuldeep, who runs the sought-after Raipur Wrestling Academy in Sonepat, said. He took over a derelict panchayat akhada in 2010, and has seen the number of trainees grow from less than 100 to over 250. Sports Authority of India (SAI), having noticed the untapped talent in Haryana, started adopting akhadas under its National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme from 2001-2002. As of now, SAI operates five akhadas in Haryana - two in Rohtak and one each in Jhajjar, Nidani and Hisar. These are provided with coaches, along with a mat and/or multi-gym equipment. As of now, 29 SAI coaches have been deployed across NCOE Sonepat, SAI Training Centre Hisar and Kurukshetra, and SAI's akhadas. Another big push comes through cash rewards. An Olympic gold medallist is entitled to Rs.6 crore, silver medallists get Rs.4 crore and bronze medallists Rs.2.5 crore. All Olympic participants are given Rs.15 lakh each. State's padak lao pad pao (bring medal, get job) scheme guarantees a government job to sportspersons. While Haryana's grassroots system lacks sports science and innovation, it is still good enough because it has tradition and heart. For now. It allows them to keep churning out talent even as other traditional catchment areas continue to fade away....