TIL Desk Sports/ The Delhi high court, on Monday, dismissed wrestler Sushil Kumar’s plea seeking a selection trial with Narsingh Yadav in the 74 kg freestyle category for a berth in the Rio Olympics. This judgement has paved the way for Narsingh Yadav to represent India at the August Olympic Games, thereby, placing on his big shoulders the responsibility of winning a medal for the country at the quadrennial mega event.
Narsingh had insisted that going to the Brazilian capital for the Games is his right since he secured the quota in the 74 kg category by winning a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships. Sushil, who won gold in the same category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but missed the event due to a shoulder injury, wanted a trial to be conducted to determine who should go to Rio. The high court had earlier, on May 17, refused to intervene in the matter and asked the Wrestling Federation of India to meet Sushil and sort out the issue.
Sushil had also appealed to the Sports Ministry, Indian Olympic Association and WFI to give him a chance for the Rio Games, as the quota berth, according to the rules, belongs to the country and not a particular wrestler. Sushil can still challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, but it could, however, well signal the end of the road for perhaps the greatest Indian Olympian, who won two back-to-back Olympic medals.
