Wrestling was just a route which Deepak Punia hoped would find him a good job to help sustain his family. He wanted a job and was even offered post of a sepoy in Indian Army back in 2016. But he was told to dream big and t settle for little things in life by ne or than Sushil Kumar.

"Keep wrestling as your priority, jobs will chase you later," Sushil, India's most successful wrestler with two Olympic medals and a world title, h told him, besides arranging for a sponsorship. 

Deepak decides to follow his dreams 

Deepak listened to vice of his senior wrestler at Chhatrasal Stium in Delhi and within three years bagged big titles on offer in groups. He became a World Cet champion in 2016 and only last month won junior World title, only fourth Indian ever to do so and first in 18 years.

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Within one month of that feat in Estonia, he found himself face-to-face with his idol and Iranian great Hasan Yazdani for a clash, winner of which would be crowned senior world champion. It is a pity that bout did t happen because of ankle injury he sustained during semifinal against Switzerland's Stefan Reichmuth and he settled for a silver.

He missed out on a great opportunity to wrestle with one of best sport has seen in its history. But last three years in Deepak Punia's life still sounds like a dream. So, what is it that makes Deepak India's best in heavyweight category in recent times. results have come thick and fast.

"It's a combination of a lot of things. Everything has to come toger," said India's former foreign coach Vlimir Mestvirishvili, who has played a key role in Deepak's progress as a world-class grappler. "You need four things -- brain, power, luck and flexibility on mat. Deepak has all. He is a disciplined wrestler and that he gets from his far.

"Boys usually get bored with repetition process when y are told to learn a new technique but Deepak would do it for two, three, four days unless he gets it. It comes from family." It's true.

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'Full support of his family' 

His far Subash has been coming to his training centre every morning to deliver milk and fruits to him since 2015 despite fact ir Chhara vill in Jhajjar district in Haryana is at a distance of 60km. That Deepak has immense appetite for milk was kwn from his childhood when he was a four-year-old kid and even it has a role in him getting moniker 'Ketli pehalwan'.

Sarpanch of his vill once offered him milk which was kept in a 'ketli' (kettle). He drank that in one gulp. He was offered a second, a third and a fourth and he finished all. From n onwards, people started calling him 'ketli pehalwan'. Deepak said staying disciplined has been a big reason for his success.

"I like hanging out with friends, going to malls and doing some shopping. But we are t allowed to go out of training centre. I like buying shoes, shirts and jeans, though I don't get to wear m because I am always in a tracksuit," he said.

"Whenever I get a chance, like after tournaments, I go out and eat even junk food. But once break is over, I don't think about anything else. Wrestling and training is life n." sponsorship he got from OGQ took away a bit of worry and he began to concentrate on honing his skills. "I was t winning even at district level in 2015," said 20-year-old. 

"I was desperate to get good results so that I can get a job somewhere to help my parents. My far used to sell milk. He worked really hard. I wanted to contribute in some way."

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Success on mat resulted in bettering his family's financial conditions. He got a job as Naik Subedar in 2018 in Indian Army and by that time he h learnt how to make money out of wrestling. Deepak would go to competitions dubbed as 'mat dangals' and earned some handsome money. He competed in several of m and forced his far to stop selling milk. He even bought an SUV last year.

"I don't kw how much money I have earned. I never me an account of that. But it was decent money. It's been sometime w that I have competed in 'mat dangals' but I did I earn some money and spent all," he laughed. 

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