Sushil Kumar eyes maiden Asian Games gold

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS): Double Olympic medal-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar Tuesday said he was hoping to overcome the disappointment of missing the 2010 Guangzhou Games by winning a medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games starting September 19.

Sushil, who won bronze in 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in London, will be fighting it out in a new weight category (70kg) at the Asian Games before he finally moves to the 74kg Olympic category for the 2016 Rio Games. His 66kg was scrapped by the world body FILA from the 2016 Rio Games last year in December.

Sushil said he has adjusted well in the last three seasons to the new weight category and is confident of a good show in this year’s Asian Games, Commonwealth and World Championships.

The wrestler, however, admitted that adjusting his weight to 74kg for the Olympics in two years’ time would be a tough ask.

“Asian Games has a 70kg category, Commonwealth Games and World Championships also have the same weight categories so there’s no problem there. In the Olympics it’s different but there’s still time for that so will have two years to prepare for the next Games,” said Sushil on the sidelines of the Incheon Games Roadshow here.

“The weight fluctuations between weight categories in different events around the world can be disturbing for the athlete. But these are the FILA rules so cannot do anything about it.”

Sushil said it was logical for him to move up to a higher weight category instead of moving to 65kg for the Olympics, since shedding weight is always a challenging task.

“It’s most difficult to shed weight. Even the doctors say one shouldn’t reduce so much weight, it affects the liver and the heart. It’s an advantage for people who are already participating in the Olympic weight categories.”

Meanwhile, Sushil said he was determined to win the elusive Asian Games gold medal. Coming at the back of some excellent results Sushil was heartbroken when he had to miss the 2010 Guangzhou Games due to shoulder and neck injuries.

“I got a bronze medal in 2006 Asian Games. I was at my peak in 2010, becoming the World Champion and also a gold medal at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. But I regret missing the 2010 Asian Games. Hopefully this year I will atone for the loss,” Sushil said.