Sushil Kumar has immersed himself in training sessions. A move, possibly, to efface the ignominy of ending up on the losing side of a protracted legal wrangle. Speaking to ESPN on Thursday, following a training session at Chhatrasal stadium in New Delhi, Sushil, a double Olympic medallist, said, "Training is currently my sole focus. That's what's keeping me busy."
The Delhi High Court in its verdict on May 6 dismissed Sushil's plea seeking the conduct of a trial bout against Narsingh Yadav to determine India's entry in the 74 kg freestyle category at the Rio Olympics.
With his hopes of making a fourth and final Olympic appearance all but snuffed out, Sushil said there was no reason for him to not support Narsingh's Olympic bid. The tinge of sarcasm, though, was hard to miss. "Narsingh toh Pakistan ka nahi hai, support kyun nahi karenge usse?" (Narsingh is not from Pakistan. Why wouldn't I support him?)
It's been ten days since the verdict but the Sushil camp continues to hold their cards close their chest. Sushil acknowledged that his coach and father-in-law Satpal Singh would take a final call on the matter. It is, however, unlikely that they will challenge the verdict in the division bench of the High Court given that there's no hope for a trial with little more than a month to go for the Olympics.
Further, with Sushil's public image taking a beating since moving court, they wouldn't want to jeopardise his commercial interests any further.
Sushil Kumar, who has won both his Olympic medals in the 66kg category, switched to the 74kg category in 2014 when the 66kg category was scrapped by the world wrestling body. However, after competing in his new category at the Commonwealth Games in July 2014, he skipped the Asian Games and subsequent events citing injury. Sushil moved the court last month after the WFI refused to include him in India's preparatory camp in Sonepat.