Sushil wants to better his Beijing Games performance

New Delhi: Having crossed the first hurdle of qualifying for the London Olympics successfully, India's ace wrestler Sushil Kumar wants to better his Beijing Games' bronze medal winning performance in the 2012 London Olympics.

"I have to better my Beijing performance. In Athens Olympics, I came close to winning a medal. I was in good form before Athens having beaten almost all the top wrestlers. But I could not win a medal in Athens. In Beijing, not many gave me any chance. But the wrestling community had faith in me and I didn't prove them wrong," said Sushil during a promotional event here Wednesday.

Aware of the expectations on him to win gold at the London Olympics, Sushil insists that he is not under pressure.

"I am aware of the expectations this time. The country is looking up to me. But I won't be under any pressure. I have never taken any pressure on myself. In a way it is good that I have qualified late because I am in competitive mould. I am in a rhythm," said Sushil while inaugurating the documentary series "Travelling with the PROS" made by Bikram Saluja on India's top-seven sportspersons including him.

Sushil's spate of injuries delayed his qualification.

"In Kazhakstan, I suffered due to shoulder and hand injury. But I still had confidence in myself. At the national camp in Sonepat people around me were also confident about my qualification and it helped me to stay motivated," he said.

The Delhi boy said that he was reviewing the performances of his competitors in london.

"In China I was in good form. There I conceded only one point before qualifying. We are now watching the videos of competitors who have qualified in my category. We are also making the strategy how to counter them," he said. (IANS)