Controversy over Sushil Kumar’s demand for Rio berth: A timeline
The Delhi high court dismissed on Monday wrestler Sushil Kumar’s plea for a trial seeking entry into the Rio Olympics. Here’s how the controversy unfolded:
The Delhi high court dismissed on Monday wrestler Sushil Kumar’s plea for a trial seeking entry into the Rio Olympics.
The court accepted the Wrestling Federation of India’s stand that 26-year-old Narsingh Yadav was a better bet in the men’s 74-kg freestyle category in the upcoming Games starting August 5. Here’s how the controversy unfolded:
2015
Nov: Narsingh Yadav wins bronze at the world championships in Las Vegas, earning a quota place for India in the men’s 74kg freestyle category.
2016
May 6: Sushil Kumar, in an interview to HT, insists that trials with Narsingh Yadav must be held to finalise India’s entry at the Rio Olympics because the country has two equally capable contestants.
May 12: WFI gives the clearest indication that Sushil will not get the trials after excluding his name from the list of probables sent to the Indian Olympic Association for Rio Games.
May 13: Sushil’s camp indicates that the two-time Olympic medallist will approach the court.
May 20: The Mumbai-based Narsingh Yadav, insists that having claimed the quota place, and as India’s best prospect, he deserves to go to the Olympics.
May 20: Yadav travels to Sonepat, Haryana for the national camp. The police Criminal Investigation Department claims Narsingh was in danger of being attacked. The wrestler is provided an armed guard round-the-clock at the SAI training centre.
May 30: The Delhi HC tells the wrestling federation not to use Sushil Kumar and Narsingh Yadav as pawns in their political game.
June 1: The Delhi high court pulls up Sushil Kumar for questioning the federation’s selection policy, pointing out that no trials was held and he was sent to the 2004 Athens Olympics as the quota winner for India.
June 2: The wrestling federation tells Delhi HC that it sent Narsingh Yadav’s name as India’s entry in the 74kg freestyle division to the United World Wrestling on May 3.
June 6: The Delhi high court dismisses Sushil Kumar’s petition seeking direction to the federation to hold trials for picking India’s participant in the 74kg class.
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