Tough for me if Narsingh qualifies, says Sushil

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar conceded on Monday that it would be tough for him to stake a claim to the Rio Olympics squad if Narsingh Yadav qualifies in the 74kg category at the upcoming World Championships in Las Vegas.

The Worlds will double up as a qualification tournament for the Rio Games. Narsingh has been selected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to represent the country in the tournament after Sushil, citing a shoulder injury, decided to skip it.

“I know it would become tough for me, but we should first wait for Narsingh to qualify. I’ll think about it (qualification) after the Worlds. My best wishes are with Narsingh,” Sushil told The Tribune.

The top six in each category at the Worlds will earn a quota for their country. According to the qualification rules, “The NOCs/NFs will not be able to send other wrestlers in the weight categories in which they already have a quota place.”

It could lead to a tricky situation for the WFI as they might be forced to hold a selection trial to choose between the two wrestlers. But this could lead to a possible controversy as Narsingh, if he qualifies, holds the first right to compete at the Rio Games.

Also, it’s Sushil who has moved up to the 74kg category after changes in the weight categories by the United World Wrestling (UWW). Narsingh has always participated in this weight category. Sushil’s previous two Olympic medals came in the 66kg category.

Should Narsingh fail to bring home the quota, Sushil could aim for qualification in the remaining six qualifiers, starting March 2016.

“I am concentrating on my first qualifier in March next year. The federation will decide about it (who will go to the Olympics). The WFI is sending me to the USA for training with the Indian contingent for the World Championships,” he informed.

For the record, the IOC rules say that the quota place in a particular weight category is for the country and not for an individual wrestler.