Trial or no trial: Will India's most successful Olympian Sushil Kumar fail to make the Rio cut?
Last year, Narsingh Yadav shocked the wrestling world by winning India’s first Olympic quota, thanks to a World Championship podium finish in Las Vegas. The 26-year old capitalised on the absence of injured Multiple Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar.
Nursing a shoulder injury, he had to step aside from a pivotal event which could guarantee him yet another medal attempt in Rio. However, according to the Olympic rules, a particular slot is won for an entire country. The national federation then decides who gets to participate in the quadrennial sporting extravaganza.
Most people thought Sushil’s contributions would’ve guaranteed him a spot at Rio, no questions asked, or so they thought.
Being India’s only back to back individual medallist, the Haryana-based wrestler was on course towards the perfect natural progression, bronze, silver and gold in as many Olympic editions. But, the rise of world number five Yadav, has opened the doors for a potential axing of India’s most successful Olympian.
Young Blood: Narsingh Yadav won India’s 74 kg Freestyle Rio quota
At the World Championships itself, Yadav proved his Olympic calibre by defeating the 2012 London bronze medallist. Now in a dilemma, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has to decide whether it will conduct trials for that coveted spot.
The association has been divided into two factions, with one prioritising form over aura.
A source from WFI said, “Firstly, we have not decided yet whether there will be trials or not. You will come to know later this week post several meetings that we will conduct. Coming to this issue, a lot of members within the association think that we should continue with our tradition of sending the slot winners. It is a structure we should maintain as it gives budding wrestlers hope. We will look into the matter only because it is Sushil, his contribution to the sport in India cannot be doubted.”
In a meeting held two weeks earlier, a large number of state members added that they could go as far as the Delhi to guarantee Yadav’s selection. Another source said, “We believe that Yadav’s form up to this event has been emphatic, to say the least. He has managed a top 5 finish in every competition since the 2012 Olympics. But, Sushil has been in and out of injury, plus this is a new weight category for him. It will be unfair for us to give up such a position.”
A section of the Federation is basing its claim on a similar situation, which occurred in 2004. Yogeshwar Dutt had won a quota placing ahead of Kripa Shankar Patel. He appealed for trials to the Delhi HC, requesting them to hold trials for the spot. However, the court upheld the decision, stating that the quota winner is the only one who deserves the spot.
The current situation is an identical one if the Delhi HC’s history with such cases is anything to go by, Sushil’s chances look bleak. Rumours also suggest that certain Federation members are angry regarding him missing the Pro Wrestling League (PWL).
Trials only way for Sushil to book Olympic tickets
Although most association members refused to comment on this, one particular official said, “The league became one of the highest watched leagues in India, so anybody missing it for ideological reasons doesn’t make sense. But, it’s one’s personal decision and we will not want to go behind that.”
Post 2013, Sushil has also been a tad bit unlucky. Despite dominating the 66kg category in the continent, he had to deal with the IOC deciding to axe his weight section. This would force him to gain eight more kilos to fight at a higher weight category, bringing in various changes to his technique and diet.
Still dealing with the sudden transition, Yadav quickly climbed the 74 kg hierarchy, winning a bronze medal at the 2015 Asian Championship and Asian Games. He said, “It would be unfair for the growth of sports in India if Sushil gets it. I have won the quota and it’s obvious that I should get it. It would be unfair for me to even fight for something I have won. There is no basis to hold these trials.”
On the other hand, Sushil is requesting the WFI for trials and not an automatic qualification spot. He said, “All I am asking for is trails. I am not saying that you send me to Rio because of my glorious past. I am only saying that whoever between me and Yadav is better, should represent the country at Olympics. Since a quota belongs to the country and not to a particular individual, thus, when there are two good contenders, there must be a fair trial. There is a procedure that should be followed.”
Form or Aura: The WFI decision
Currently training with the national Georgian wrestling team, who won six medals at London, Sushil has returned to full fitness. A source within WFI said, “Baat yeh hai ki Sushil aur Yadav ki kabhi kushti nahi hui, toh humlog kaise bol sakta hai ki kaun acha khiladi hai? “. (The fact is that Sushil and Yadav never fought each other, so how can we decide who the better player is?)
With the entire association divided in its views of the selection. Yadav is currently occupying the slot on the official website. However, the WFI has until July 18 to decide, who will sit on the plane to Rio.
A senior WFI official said, “We could expect a decision till Friday as the goal is to take a call by the end of this week.”
This particular situation also took place in shooting, where 2008 double trap world number 1 Ronjan Singh Sodhi, had to step aside for this particular. However, in that particular case trials were conducted, with Sodhi eventually losing out to Rathore.
Hence, trials have proved a worthy process to choose India’s Olympic candidate. Even at a time, when the quota winner was the finest in the world. If previous cases are anything to go by then Sushil’s qualification chances seem low.
However, he is also India’s most successful individual Olympian, which indicates a higher medal winning probability in Rio. It’s a very difficult position the WFI has found itself in, maybe just maybe trials could be the only way out.