Sushil, Sakshi upgraded to Grade A

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 11

Two-time Olympics medallist Sushil Kumar and Rio Olympics bronze medal winner Sakshi Malik will be accommodated in the top bracket of central contracts. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had at first placed them in Grade B, which entitled them to Rs 20 lakh per annum. The elevation into Grade A category will give them Rs 30 lakh per annum. 

It is understood that both the wrestlers had communicated their disappointment over being placed in Grade B.  Originally, Grade A included Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Pooja Dhanda. WFI had ignored the duo for the top bracket because both of them had been quite ordinary in the last two years, and failed to finish on the podium in the Asian Games.

“They complained that Grade B contract gives a wrong signal about their status. We have upgraded them and they will be given Grade A contracts,” said a source privy to the decision.

But there is a rider attached. They have been given Grade A contract till the 2019 Asian Championships, scheduled to be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. “It is a conditional upgrade. If they do badly at the Asian Championships next year, they will lose their Grade A contracts,” another source said.

WFI and its primary sponsor, the TATA group, will officially hand over the contracts to the wrestlers in an event in Mumbai on Wednesday.