'I have been with Guruji for over 10 years and I have seen his dedication. Now he can't walk but still we make him sit on the chair while we practise,' says Dharmender, a silver medallist at senior Asian Championship.

But the government has done little to recognise the contribution of Chand Roop. Neither has it provided facilities to the akhara which has been producing such star players.

Though the profile of the sport has gone up since Sushil Kumar's bronze medal feat at the Beijing Olympics, the training centre such as these somehow continue to run with lack of funds and international facilities.

'We don't have the advanced equipment which our counterparts in other countries have. If we have to lose weight, we wear a packed track suit and just sweat it out even in the month of June. We run on the streets wearing those track suits in the afternoon,' a trainee wrestler said.

Apart from their fight to get better facilities, Chand Roop's trainees have also been raising their voice to get their mentor the recognition he deserves.

Recently Chand Roop's Arjuna awardee trainees staged a protest demanding the Dronacharya Award for him.

'Guruji's name has been recommended more than 14 times, but still the government did not consider him. It is very painful for us to see Guruji not getting his worth as he has dedicated his entire life to wrestling,' Arjuna awardee Rohtas Singh Dahiya.

They called off the protest after getting an assurance from the sports ministry that Chand Roop's name would be considered next year.

Raj Singh, vice-president of the Wrestling Federation of India, admits Chand Roop is a deserving candidate for the Dronacharya Award.

'He deserves the award, the government should acknowledge his contribution and give him a lifetime achievement award.'

(Nabeel A. Khan can be contacted at nabeel.k@ians.in)