Sushil Kumar moves court seeking trials for Rio Games

Two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar has moved the Delhi high court seeking trials for the Rio Olympics.

The 32-year-old wrestler, who a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver at the London Games in 2012, was omitted from the Wrestling Federation of India's Rio preparatory camp, which will begin in Sonepat on Wednesday.

Instead, Narsingh Pancham Yadav was included for the camp in the men's 74kg freestyle division since he acquired the berth at the World Championships in Las Vegas last year.

With the WFI not showing much interest in conducting a trial in the 74kg, Sushil had taken the matter to the doorsteps of the Prime Minister's Office.

He also appealed to the Sports Ministry, Indian Olympic Association, WFI and fans to give him a chance to undergo a trial for the Rio Games as, according to the rules, the quota belongs to the country and not a particular wrestler.

However, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has left the matter to the Wrestling Federation of India, saying the government will not intervene.

"We had no option but to take the matter to the court as Sushil wants a chance to undergo a trial," a source close to the wrestler said.

Sushil’s contention is the government has spent a substantial amount of money on his training and even the federation had told to keep practising.

"If it was already decided that the athlete winning the quota place would be the one going to Rio Games, then WFI should have told me and also my name should have been omitted from the Sports Ministry's TOP scheme.

"Then I would not have worked so hard in the last one year and also the government should not have wasted so much money and time on my training in India as well as abroad," said Sushil.

According to the rules in place for the Olympics, a World Championship medal ensures a berth for the country in a particular category, not the individual wrestler. Thus, it was expected

that a trial would be held in the contentious 74kg category to chose between Sushil and Narsingh, who, in addition to the third place finish at the World Championships, won medals at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and 2015 Asian Championships in Doha.

The, it appears, is not too keen on holding the trial in 74kg division, fearing demands from other wrestlers in the remaining seven weight categories India has earned quotas for Rio Games.

Image: Sushil Kumar

Photograph: Getty Images