Delhi High Court tells Wrestling Federation of India to hear Sushil Kumar's plea
In a new development in the on-going Sushil Kumar-Narsingh Yadav tug-of-war for a berth in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and Central Government, asking them to resolve the matter and listen to Kumar’s plea. A huge controversy has surrounded the entire debate about who should represent India in the 74kg freestyle category at the 2016 Rio Games with Sushil Kumar demanding a trial while Narsingh Yadav feeling that he deserves the birth due to his performances.
The Delhi High Court has also said that wrestlers should be focusing on practice rather than fighting legal battles and the matter needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. The Indian Sports Ministry, on the other hand, said a few days back that it will not be interfering in the matter. “It is the Federation criteria that has to be followed. We can’t interfere. They are autonomous body. It is the responsibility of the Federation,” Sports Minister Sonowal said at a recent event.
Also read: Rio Olympics 2016: Sushil Kumar moves Delhi High Court seeking a trial with Narsingh Yadav
The Wrestling Federation of India, on its part, has told the Delhi High Court that Narsingh Yadav is better than Sushil Kumar.
#BREAKING "Narsingh is better than Sushil Kumar," WFI tells Delhi HC citing Narsingh's performance pic.twitter.com/bZkO9DSC3k
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 17, 2016
Sushil Kumar moved the Delhi High Court a few days back, asking for a fair trial with Narsingh Yadav, who himself has the quota due to his performances at the World Championship in Las Vegas last year.
Kumar missed out on the event due to injury and as a result was not eligible to the get the quota. However, Kumar feels that he deserves a fair trial and tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), requesting for them to intervene in the matter.
Delhi High Court’s notice came as a relief for Sushil Kumar, who expressed his sentiments through his account on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Finally I ve got some support & court has directed @FederationWrest to meet and sort out the matter. Winning medals in past is not wasted
— Sushil Kumar (@WrestlerSushil) May 17, 2016
Nothing is clear at the moment about who will finally be on the plane to Rio de Janeiro until the final selections are announced but the entire saga has done more damage to India's cause than it has helped.
The Wrestling Federation of India also tweeted on the matter.