Accusations against Sushil Kumar has tarnished Indian wrestling image: WFI
The Wrestling Federation of India is concerned about the image of the sport taking a beating following accusations against Sushil Kumar in a murder case. However, the national body is not thinking of removing the star wrestler from the annual contract list at the moment.
In Short
- Sushil Kumar untraceable since death of young wrestler after brawl at Chhatrasal stadium
- WFI worried Sushil's alleged role might hamper image of Indian wrestling
- Sushil was handed an A grade contract in December 2018
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is concerned that the reputation built over years with good performances at the international level due to accusations against Sushil Kumar as the police look for him in relation to a murder case.
The police on Monday issued a 'Look-out Circular' (LoC) against Sushil Kumar, who is untraceable since the brawl that led to the death of a young wrestler. The police is ascertaining the role of Sushil in a May 4 brawl that led to the death of 23-year-old Sagar Rana outside the Chhatrasal stadium. The incident has come at a time when Indian wrestling is celebrating its highest number of quotas -- eight -- for the Olympics. The anticipation of a best-ever performance at the Tokyo Games is hard to miss.
Sushil's international success triggered a revolution and created an inspirational legacy. The reserved grappler from Najafgarh's Baprola village is till date India's only world champion (2010) in the sport. He is also the only one to claim two individual Olympic medals, an exceptional feat for a country which has seen very limited success at the Games.
"Yes, I must say that the image of Indian wrestling has got hurt badly by this. But we have nothing to do with what wrestlers do away from the mat. We are concerned with their on-mat performance," WFI Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar told the Press Trust of India.
Sushil's bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics had ended India's 56-year-long wait for an Olympic medal in wrestling.
The achievement had a tremendous impact as Indian wrestling witnessed the rise of Yogeshwar Dutt, Geeta and Babita Phogat, their cousin Vinesh, Rio bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and World medallists Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia after that.
"Not only this, but the incident that happened in February had also tarnished the image of Indian wrestling. The sport has struggled hard in earning a reputation because for long wrestlers were known only as a bunch of goons," Tomar lamented. The WFI official was referring to coach Sukhwinder Mor's involvement in the murder of five people, including a fellow coach Manoj Malik, in Jaat College in Rohtak district of Haryana.
Sukhwinder had allegedly gunned down five people due to his personal enmity with Malik and was arrested from New Delhi in a joint operation by Delhi and Haryana police.
Will WFI remove Sushil from annual contracts list?
Asked if WFI will remove Sushil from the annual contracts list, Tomar said they "were not mulling any such move as of now."
Sushil was handed an A grade contract in December 2018 along with four others for an annual financial support of Rs 30 lakh.
However, he has not participated in any international event since his first round defeat in the 2019 World Championship in Nur Sultan.
The image of Chhatrasal stadium, which has given India its finest wrestlers like Sushil, Yogeshwar, Bajrang and now Tokyo-bound Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia, has also taken a beating.