Nitesh Siwach: ‘I wanted to make history and take the gold’

For Nitesh Siwach, the Asian Games silver medal in the men’s 97kg Greco-Roman category was a moment of immense happiness, but also one tinged with disappointment. Having reached the final, the wrestler from Sonipat had wanted nothing less than gold.

“I am very, very happy. Today, I want to fold my hands and thank everyone whose blessings helped me finish on the podium,” Nitesh said after his silver-medal finish.

Once the final was confirmed, his mind was clear about what he wanted against Japan’s Yuri Nakazato.

“There was only one thing going on in my mind: today I have to make history and take the gold. I missed that a little. I could have done better, but I could not. I will do better in the future.”

The 97kg final also left Nitesh frustrated with himself. He felt his opponent had not necessarily beaten him through scoring superiority, but that his own mistakes had decided the contest.

“I am not satisfied with the silver medal. The opponent did not score against me. I made all the mistakes and because of me, all the points went to him.”

Yet the medal represents a significant moment in his career and is something he is keen to share with the people who have stood behind him throughout his journey. He dedicated it first to his guru Om Prakash Dahiya, his parents, his coach Sandeep and, ultimately, the entire country.

“I have won this medal for my guru, my parents and my coach Sandeep. I have won this medal for my entire country.”

Nitesh also credited the Wrestling Federation of India and the support he received in recent years, particularly opportunities to train abroad and work with foreign coaches.

“When we used to tell them, ‘Sir, give us foreign camps’, they gave us camps. They brought in foreigners, because of which our wrestling could improve.”

For Nitesh, one of the clearest areas of improvement has been his ground wrestling.

“My ground wrestling was a little weak. There has been a big difference in that, and today I could see that there has been improvement.”

Behind the wrestler is a joint family that has played a major role in his life. Nitesh spoke with particular affection about his uncle, or ‘Kaka’, who he says has supported him even beyond what his parents could manage.

“If I tell him I need ₹10,000, he gives me ₹20,000. He worries about me so much. He will say, ‘My son is coming home, make paneer for him, make churma for him.’ My Kaka does more for me than even my parents.”

There was a time, however, when wrestling itself was under threat. At 15, after an operation, Nitesh spent two years helping his father with the family’s milk business.

“My father thought, ‘The boy should not go astray,’ so he involved me in the milk business. I did the milk work for two years.”

Eventually, Nitesh asked his parents for six months to prove himself.

“I understood the importance of every single day in those six months. I won a gold medal at the school nationals. That was the beginning of something good for me.”

Now, with an Asian Games silver around his neck, Nitesh’s ambitions are only growing. Away from wrestling, he is fond of films based on real stories and listens to Haryanvi and Punjabi music.

But the biggest story is the one he is still writing himself.

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