The meeting between the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and grappler Sushil Kumar in the national capital Wednesday remained “inconclusive” as the sports body stood its ground over not conducting a selection trial between the two-time Olympics medallist and Narsingh Pancham Yadav, says a report in Chandigarh Tribune.
According to the Tribune report, following the court orders, Sushil and his mentor and father-in-law Satpal approached WFI today and requested it to hold the trial in the 74kg weight category to ensure that India’s best wrestler in this category represented the country in the Rio Olympic Games. During the meeting, which lasted over an hour, Sushil told WFI that he is now fit and should be given a chance to stake his claim for the Rio Olympics. “Sushil told them he could not participate in the World Championships (last year) as he was nursing a shoulder injury and had been advised by the doctors to not fight,” said Satpal.
“He also told them that he was now fit and should be given a fair trial,” Satpal said, adding that the star grappler also mentioned that he had gone abroad for training with the federation’s permission.
According to a report in The Hindu, “Sushil was not satisfied with the WFI explanation.”
Addressing mediapersons, Sushil said, “I have always wished Narsingh well and do not have any grudges against the federation. At present I have to fight for my case. I deserve a chance to represent the country in the Olympics.”
According to the Hindu report, on behalf of the WFI, Brij Bhushan said there was no question of the federation getting convinced. “We will file our reply in court.”
Brij Bhushan said WFI respected Sushil, but wondered how the federation could be unfair to a wrestler who had earned an Olympic quota place and had been performing consistently.
Asked whether WFI would allow Sushil to be part of the National camp for the Olympic-bound wrestlers starting at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Sonepat on Friday, Brij Bhushan said, at present the federation would not allow Sushil to be part of the camp. “If the court asks us to include him, we will,” he said.
