Yogeshwar talks about rift between him and Sushil
© official Facebook Sushil
Honor is not a mere word among India's wrestling community, and Yogeshwar Dutt believes that Sushil has somehow lessened his when he went to court for the Olympic quota. The Olympic medalist talked about how he has fallen out with Sushil Kumar and how the incident has affected Indian wrestling.
Yogeshwar, in a candid interview, said "Meri aur baat nahi usse (I don't talk to Sushil anymore)," reported ToI.
The two were once best friends but have fallen out of late, and Sushil approaching the court was the last straw in it, said Yogeshwar.
Speaking about it, Yogeshwar said, "Progressively over the years, things have gone down between us. There are several reasons, but him (Sushil) dragging the sport to the court wasn't right. I don't support that.”
Sushil Kumar had filed a petition seeking a match between him and Narsingh Yadav, who had secured an Olympic quote place for India by winning the bronze medal at the World Championship in 2015. He had earlier won gold at the Asian Championships, the Asian games and the Commonwealth games in the same category. Sushil Kumar, who had to shift from the 66kg lightweight to the 74 kg category, after the former was dropped from the Olympics, missed the World Championship due to injury. But the Delhi High court struck down the plea and the Wrestling Federation of India as well ruled in Narsingh's favor.
This led to Sushil Kumar, two-time Olympic medalist, claiming that a trial should be held to decide India’s representative in that category at the Rio Games. After the WFI had rejected the idea, Sushil moved court.
Yogeshwar and Sushil were inseparable once with both coming from the same akhada, having the same coach, who is incidentally Sushil's father-in-law now. But Yogeshwar did not pull back when he said Sushil has wronged the Indian wrestling community by taking the issue to court.
Kushti ke liye yeh galat hua (It was wrong for the sport). The young wrestlers, who look up to you, have been set a wrong precedent. I can tell you all the wrestlers who are going to the Rio Olympics were deeply disturbed by what was happening in this case. The rule is clear and consistent for everyone. It is happening like this... jo pehelwan quota lata hai, wohi Olympics jaata hai (the wrestler who clinches quota, represents the country at the Olympics). I have benefited from this rule. Now to say the rule is faulty will be wrong.
Sushil's father-in-law Satpal confirmed the rift between India's Olympian wrestlers but wished Yogeshwar the best at the Rio Olympics. Satpal said, "Dekho jo ho gaya so ho gaya (Bygones are bygones). I wish that my ward (Yogeshwar) will be able to bring gold for the country this time around. He is training really hard and I hope his hard work pays off during the Olympics," reported ToI.
