New Delhi: Narsingh Yadav might have staked his claim to represent India at the Olympics, having clinched a berth in the men’s 74kg freestyle, but double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar on Tuesday said all he was asking for was a trial to chose the best wrestler for the Rio Games.
The Wrestling Federation of India is yet to take a call on whether to hold trials in the men’s 74kg freestyle category between the two. “All I am asking for is a trial. I am not saying that you send me to Rio because of my glorious past. I am only saying that whoever between me and Narsingh is better, should represent the country at the Olympics. Since a quota belongs to the country and not to a particular individual, when there are two good contenders, there must be a fair trial,” Sushil said .
“Even the reigning world and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs had to undergo trials to make it to the US team for the Rio Games. It happens everywhere,” he added.
With the WFI yet to decide on holding the trials, speculation is doing the rounds.
“The Sports Authority of India and government have spent a lot of money on my preparation and it is only just that I be given an opportunity to prove that I have utilised every bit of that,” Sushil insisted. Bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver winner at the London four years later, Sushil said his job was to prepare well for Rio and not the trials.
