Sushil Kumar was once the most respected wrestler at Chhatrasal Stadium and in India, but his actions over the last few days brought the two-time Olympic medalist from the post of great power to the prison floor in Delhi, to be named. Co-accused in the Sagar Rana murder case earlier this month
 |
| Image Credit - Google |
Who is Sushil Kumar?
Sushil Kumar is an Indian freestyle wrestler who became the first Indian to win individual Olympic medals one after the other; He won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Coming from a modest background, he was inspired to take wrestling from his cousin and father.
His family members provided him with all the requirements necessary to succeed as a wrestler. Kumar started as a promising wrestler in the junior level and won a gold medal at the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships, however, he actually made headlines as one until winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Among the best wrestlers in India. Kumar won medals in most major tournaments in which he participated after his performance in Beijing and became the flag bearer of India at the 2012 London Olympics. Unlike wrestlers of the past, Kumar is also a popular personality and endorses a lot of products. He is undoubtedly one of the best freestyle wrestlers in India and a great role model who has inspired many youngsters to adopt the sport of wrestling.
Childhood and early life
Sushil Kumar was born on 26 May 1983 in Baprola village on the outskirts of New Delhi to Dewan Singh and his wife Kamala Devi. His father was employed as a bus driver in the Delhi Transport Corporation and was a wrestling enthusiast by himself.
Kumar's cousin Sandeep was also a wrestler and his cousin inspired him to take up wrestling. His father also helped him. When he was 14 years old, Kumar started training as a wrestler in the 'Akhade' or wrestling academy, located at the Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi. One of his trainers was the famous wrestler Satpal.
Sushil Kumar started competing in the junior levels and won his first tournament in 1998 when he emerged as the gold medalist at the World Cadet Games. Two years later, he again won a gold medal at the Asian Junior Wrestling Championships and emerged as one of the most promising young wrestling talents in the country.
Career
In 2003, Kumar participated in the Asian Wrestling Championship held in New Delhi and finished as a bronze medalist in the 60 kg freestyle category. The same year, he won a gold medal in the freestyle category at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship, London.
Sushil Kumar was part of the Indian wrestling team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but his performance was not good and he finished 14th in the 60kg freestyle category.
In 2005, he competed in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships held in Cape Town, and won a gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle category and bronze in the 66 kg Greco-Roman category at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, winning a bronze medal in the 66 kg freestyle category. At the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships held in London in 2007, he once again won a gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle category.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the 66 kg freestyle category. His performance at the Beijing Olympics was even more credible as he lost in the first round and returned to repechages.
Sushil Kumar made history at the World Wrestling Championships held in Moscow in 2010 when he became the first Indian to win a world title in wrestling. The same year, he won a gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle category at the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi.
In 2012, he once again made history when he won a silver medal in the 66kg freestyle category at the London Olympics and became the first Indian to win individual Olympic medals one after the other.
In 2014, Sushil Kumar won a gold medal in the 74 kg freestyle category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. In the final, he defeated Pakistan's Qamar Abbas with a fall in 107 seconds.
Awards and Achievements
Sushil Kumar was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2005.
In 2008, he was honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honor in India.
In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.
Personal life and heritage
She married Savi Solanki, the daughter of famous wrestler Guru Satpal, on 18 February 2011.
The couple was blessed with twin boys in 2014.
Controversies - Murder Case of Wrestler Sagar Rana
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Sushil Kumar and co-accused Ajay from the Mundka area on 23 September 2021. The 2-time Olympic wrestler has been sent to police custody for 6 days and the eyes will be on the findings of the investigation.
The whole episode has shaken the nation and made people curious to know what is the true reason for the superstar wrestler being involved in the murder case. 2-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, alleged links with gangsters have also attracted a lot of attention.
According to sources, there is a flat in Model Town in Delhi behind this whole incident.
Sonu Mahal, who was injured by assaulting Sagar Rana, is the nephew of Sandeep Kala alias Kala Jathedar, a wanted criminal from Delhi and Haryana. There are a total of 19 criminal cases against Sonu. It is said that Sushil Kumar had a good relationship with Jathedi, however, it soured after the controversy at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium on 4 May. Kala Jathedi aims to become the kingpin of the underworld in North India.
In Delhi, wrestlers are used to intimidating, grab land and property.
The 'services' of wrestlers in the national capital are used by people who lend money on interest. These wrestlers scare those who do not pay on time. If the debt-ridden person is not in a position to return the money, these wrestlers forcefully sign their property papers in the name of the person giving the informal loan.
A Delhi court refused to grant anticipatory bail to the two-time Olympic medalist, saying that he was prima facie the main conspirator and the charges against him were of a serious nature. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him and six others. This comes days after the lookout notice was issued against the wrestler. Delhi Police has sections 302 (murder), 308 (culpable homicide), 365 (kidnapping), 325 (causing serious injury), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongfully restraining), and 506 (criminal) in the case.
Has filed an FIR under Threat of Indian Penal Code (IPC)). A case was also registered under sections 188 (disobedience of order by public servant), 269 (likely to spread infection of the disease by negligence), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention), and various sections of the IPC. Arms Act. Being one of the greatest Indian Olympians, Kumar's monumental downfall has come as a shock and disbelief in the sports fraternity.
The thing that has really shocked people is the involvement of Sushil Kumar, a government-run Olympic champion, in this suspected wrestler-criminal nexus.
Although no investigation or verdict has yet been delivered in the case, the latest controversy that Sushil Kumar finds himself in has undermined his legacy and stature as a role model.
