The development prompted Sushil to move up a weight category to the 74kg division which brought him into direct competition with Narsingh Yadav, who was the top Indian wrestler in that category till then.
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WFI went on to say that a decision regarding the final names is yet to be taken and will be taken by the WFI president Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh.
Indian wrestling is now grappling with a serious issue surrounding two of its premier athletes – Sushil Kumar and Narsingh Yadav. Meanwhile, Sushil’s mentor Satpal slammed the system saying quota is for the country and that it is shameful that a two-time Olympic medallist had to plead for justice.
Narsingh earned his ticket for the Rio Olympics by clinching a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas past year in 74kg division freestyle wrestling.
“I have been training very hard”.
Since then the Maharashtra grappler has been staking his claim for a berth, while double Olympic-medallist Sushil, who missed that event with a shoulder injury, has asked for a trial to determine who ultimately represents India at Rio. “Then it would be up to the selection committee to decide whether to hold the trials and whatever it decides, the Federation would be okay with it”, informed the official.
Sushil, who had won bronze at the 2008 Olympics and silver at the 2012 Games in London, was the World No.1 in the 66kg freestyle category which was abolished by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) in 2014.
Also Read: Trial or no trial: Will India’s most successful Olympian Sushil Kumar fail to make the Rio cut?
“All I am asking for is to take part in the trails”.
The 32-year-old is contemplating approaching Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal if his demand for a trial is not accepted by WFI.
Earlier, Sushil competed in the 66 kg category, but had to switch to 74 kg after worldwide wrestling federation chose to merge both of them in 2013. “It is the responsibility of the federation”, Sonowal told the media at a function here on Thursday. Consequently, the Union Sports Ministry has refused to interfere in the decision and it said it was an internal matter of India’s wrestling federation. We should send the wrestler who is the best bet to win a medal at the Olympics.
Sushil also reiterated his demand for a trial.
Sushil Kumar told newsagency PTI, that he is asking for trials not because of his glorious past but he wants that whoever between him and Narsingh is better, should represent the country at Olympics.
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Narsingh had participated at the 2012 London Olympics in 74 kg category but was ousted in the first round.
