Sushil Kumar should go to Rio to support Narsingh Yadav at Olympics, says Abhinav Bindra

Sushil Kumar’s dreams of making an appearance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio were ended when the Delhi High Court  dismissed a plea by Olympic medal winner, seeking trials in the 74 kg free style wrestling to enable him win a berth in the Indian squad to the Rio Olympics. Sushil Kumar who brought glory to India in 2008 and 2012 games, with a bronze and a silver medal respectively, missed the qualification for Rio Olympics due to injury, and Narsingh Yadav secured the berth to represent the country. But Sushil felt his past record and heavy preparations for the 2016 Olympics merited him a place in the Indian squad for Rio. [caption id=“attachment_2787818” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Abhinav Bindra has adviced Sushil Kumar to fly toRio to support Narsingh from the sidelines. Reuters[/caption] After repeatedly requesting the Wrestling Federation of India to hold trials anew, Sushil Kumar moved the court, only for the Delhi HC to dismiss his plea and put an end to the debate once and for all. But just hours after the High Court ruling, another one of India’s famed Olympian, Abhinav Bindra voiced his opinion on Twitter, suggesting that Sushil Kumar should go to Rio to support Narsingh from the sidelines.

Sushil Kumar is a legend. He should go to Rio - to support Nar singh from the sidelines . Will only enhance his stature .

— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) June 6, 2016

Bindra’s suggestions has put the ball in Sushil Kumar’s court who has been rooting for the best possible solution for India. The pinned tweet on Sushil Kumar’s Twitter handle reads his desire for the best wrestler to represent India at the 2016 Olympics

मैं सिर्फ इतना चाहता हूँ की सबसे अच्छा खिलाड़ी देश के लिए खेलने जाये #justice4sushil pic.twitter.com/8n9Igncb4N

— Sushil Kumar (@WrestlerSushil) May 12, 2016

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Now that it’s clear that it will be Narsingh Yadav going to Rio to represent India, having a champion like Sushil Kumar to advice him during the games, would be an added bonus. The fact that Sushil Kumar has mentored Narsingh Yadav in the past only makes Bindra’s comments seem logical. So will Sushil Kumar swallow his pride and head off to Rio with the wrestling team, strengthening the Indian claim for medal? Seems unlikely, if not unrealistic at the moment. But if Sushil does decide to take Bindra’s advice, his gesture will lay a new marker in sportsmanship. He has nothing much to lose even if he decides against taking Bindra’s advice as his legacy is safe. But by helping Narsingh win a medal, Sushil could be India’s hero again even without stepping into the ring.