Case a distraction, focus remained on Rio, says Narsingh Yadav

Narsingh Yadav admitted that it had been an “unusual” past few days. The court battle between him and Sushil Kumar over an Olympic berth had been a “distraction”, the 26-year-old from Mumbai said but was quick to add that “my focus was always on the Rio gold.”

“It’s just that, I can train in peace now,” Narsingh, currently in Bulgaria training with seven other Rio-bound wrestlers, told this paper.

The tussle over who will represent the country in the 74kg category at the Rio Games, at least for now, ended after the Delhi high court dismissed Sushil’s plea seeking a “trial bout” ahead of the multi-sport event this August.

The court decision, which was not surprising, brought a bit of relief to many, including Narsingh. “First of all, the whole episode should not had happened. At a time, when every athlete is training hard to win a medal at Rio, we are fighting over an Olympic quota. I wasn’t tense over losing my chance but it was a distraction, though I had faith in the federation that they would take the right decision.”

“I am happy they came out in my support and stuck to their stand.”

Sushil, who bagged both his Olympic medals — silver in London, bronze in Beijing — in 66kg weight category moved the court after the Wrestling Federation of India left out his name from the Rio preparatory camp. Meanwhile, Narsingh — a gold medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games — had staked his claim of going to Rio after securing a quota at the World Championships in Las Vegas last September.

Asked if he was ready to fight Sushil in a trial if the court had decided in favour of the latter, Narsingh replied, “I won’t say, no.

“But the situation is different now, the court had not given a nod for the trials.

“Moreover, I have already secured a berth.”

When reminded that the quota belonged to the country, Yadav said, “Yes, that’s right. But without my effort and fights, the country wouldn’t have earned that quota. I don’t think I have to prove it again.

“It’s my right to go to Rio,” Narsingh added.

“After the Worlds bronze, I got some time (8-9) months to train and work on my weaknesses. And I am focused on that here. We have got new partners also (Bulgarian wrestlers) which is helping us to work on our technique.

“I am also giving importance on strength training, besides doing a lot of videos analysis of my opponents,” he added.

On his camaraderie with Sushil, Narsingh said: “I have no hard feelings. He (Sushil) is like a friend. I respect him as a person and wrestler. It is unfortunate that we both are fighting in the same (74kg) weight category.

“He is a very good wrestler in 66kg but in 74kg, Sushil had hardly participated in the last two years.

“I am the best in the country, in 74 kg,” he added with confidence.

The hurdles apart, Narsingh concluded saying the real test would begin in seven weeks from now.