The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has tried to persuade back-to-back Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar not to insist on a trial bout with Narsingh Yadav to decide who of the two should go to the Rio Olympic Games. So as he brings in his 33rd Birthday today, here’s a look at what the current situation means for the champion wrestler and the possible road ahead.
Sushil met the WFI officials last week with his long-time coach and also father-in-law Satpal in tow, and pleaded for a “fair trial”. The federation was naturally unimpressed with his appeal and explained to him why he does not deserve a trial. He was told that a trial at this late stage would be affecting the psyche of Narsingh who worked hard to get the quota place for the country and also was preparing for the big event.
Sushil has given a new twist to the controversy by stating that he was promised a trial, but the WFI insists that no such assurance was given. The federation made it clear that Sushil talked of him being fit only a couple of weeks ago.
On Sushil’s camp citing a precedent of a trial before the 1996 Atlanta Games in the 48-kg Greco-Roman division, it was explained that trial was held because no wrestler qualified and India received a wild card entry. More importantly it was a “political fight” with heavyweight political groups backing the two combatants, Kaka Pawar and Pappu Yadav.