Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar (born 26 May 1983)[1] is a former Indian wrestler.[8] He carried the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of 2012 London Olympics. His 2008 Olympic medal was the second for India in wrestling, and the first since Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav's bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[9][10] In July 2009, he received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna – India's highest honour for sportspersons.[11] On 3 October 2010, Kumar handed the Queen's Baton to Prince Charles in the Queen's Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.[12][13] Sushil won the gold medal in the 74 kg division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.[14][8][9] Sushil won the gold medal in the 74 kg division at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

For other uses, see Sushil Kumar (disambiguation).

Sushil Kumar
Kumar in 2014
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (1983-05-26) 26 May 1983[1]
Delhi, India
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Weight66 kg (146 lb)[2]
Sport
CountryIndia
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle
ClubNIS, Delhi
Coached bySatpal Singh
Medal record
Representing  India
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games - 1 1
World Championships 1 - -
Asian Games - - 1
Commonwealth Games 3 - -
Asian Championships 1 1 2
Commonwealth Championship 5 - 1
Total 10 2 5
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing 66 kg
Silver medal – second place 2012 London 66 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Moscow 66 kg
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi 66 kg
Gold medal – first place 2014 Glasgow 74 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 Gold Coast 74 kg
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Doha 66 Kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2003 New Delhi 60 kg
Silver medal – second place 2007 Bishkek 66 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Jeju Island 66 kg
Gold medal – first place 2010 New Delhi 66 kg
Commonwealth Championship
Gold medal – first place 2003 London[3] 60 kg
Gold medal – first place 2005 Cape Town[4] 66 kg
Gold medal – first place 2007 London[5] 66 kg
Gold medal – first place 2009 Jalandhar[6] 66 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 Johannesburg[7] 74 kg
Updated on 26 February 2018.

Career
Kumar at 2008 Summer Olympics

Kumar started training in pehlwani at the Chhatrasal Stadium's akhada at the age of 14. He was trained at the akhada by Yashvir and Ramphal, later by Arjuna awardee Satpal and then at the Indian Railways camp by Gyan Singh and Rajkumar Baisla Gurjar.[10][15]

After switching to freestyle wrestling Kumar's first success came at the World Cadet Games in 1998 where he won the gold medal in his weight category, followed by a gold at the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship in 2000. Moving out of the junior competitions, in 2003 Kumar won the bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships and a gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships. Kumar placed fourth at the 2003 World Championships, but this went largely unnoticed by the Indian media as he fared badly in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, placing 14th in the 60 kg weight class. He won gold medals at the Commonwealth wrestling Championships in 2005 and 2007. He placed seventh in the 2007 World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming the first person to win two Olympic medals for independent India.[16] Kumar was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2006 and a coveted Padma Shree by the Indian Government in 2011.[17]

2008 Beijing Olympics

Kumar lost to Andriy Stadnik in the first round of the 66 kg freestyle wrestling event,[18] leaving his medal hopes hinging on the repechage. He defeated Doug Schwab in the first repechage round and Albert Batyrov in the second round. In the bronze medal match on 20 August 2008, Kumar beat Leonid Spiridonov 3:1.[19] Kumar disclosed that he had no masseur during the three bouts he won within a span of 70 minutes to take the bronze. The team manager Kartar Singh who is a former Asian Games medallist acted as the masseur for him.[20]

2010 World Wrestling Championships, Moscow

At the 2010 World Wrestling Championships Kumar became the first Indian to win a world title in wrestling. He beat the local favourite Alan Gogaev of Russia 3–1 in the finals in the 66 kg category.

2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi

Kumar won gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi on 10 October 2010. He beat Heinrich Barnes 7–0 in the finals in the 66 kg freestyle wrestling category. The bout was stopped by the referee in the second round. Earlier, in the semifinals, Kumar defeated Famara Jarjou 3–0 within 9 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Kumar defeated Muhammad Salman 10–0 in 46 seconds.[21]

2012 London Olympics
Kumar (left) at the 2012 Olympics

Kumar won a silver medal after losing the final to Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu.[22] Earlier, he had entered the final amid some controversy by beating Kazakhastan's Akzhurek Tanatarov in the semifinal. The Kazakh athlete claimed Kumar had bitten his ear, which was denied by the latter.[23] Kumar was the Olympic flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony.[24] This win made him the first Indian to win 2 individual Olympic Medals since India's Independence.[25][26]

2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow

Kumar defeated Qamar Abbas in the 74 kg final to win the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He won in 107 seconds by fall.

2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia

Kumar won gold in 74 kg category on 12 April 2018, Thursday, beating South Africa’s Johannes Botha[27] in the final that lasted 80 seconds thus achieving a feat of winning 3 gold medals in 3 consecutive Commonwealth Games.

International competition

Summer Olympics
Year Competition Venue Event Rank opponent Score Repechage opponent Score
2012 2012 Olympic Games London 66 kg 2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (JPN) Loss
2008 2008 Olympic Games Beijing 66 kg 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Andriy Stadnik (UKR) Loss  Leonid Spiridonov (KAZ) Win
2004 2004 Olympic Games Athens 60 kg 14th  Yandro Quintana (CUB) Loss

World Championship
Year Competition Venue Event Rank opponent Score Repechage Score
2019 2019 World Wrestling Championships Nur-sultan 74 kg 20th  Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev (AZE) Loss
2011 2011 World Wrestling Championships Istanbul 66 kg 14th  Andriy Stadnik (UKR) Loss
2010 2010 World Wrestling Championships Moscow 66 kg 1st place, gold medalist(s)  Alan Gogaev (RUS) Win
2009 2009 World Wrestling Championships Herning 66 kg 5th  Rasul Dzhukayev (RUS) Loss  Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (JPN) Loss
2007 2007 World Wrestling Championships Baku 66 kg 7th  Andriy Stadnik (UKR) Loss
2006 2006 World Wrestling Championships Guangzhou 66 kg 13th  Elman Asgarov (AZE) Loss
2003 2003 World Wrestling Championships New York City 60 kg 4th  Arif Abdullayev (AZE) Loss

Personal life

Kumar was born in a Jat family of Solanki clan in Baprola village,[28][29] near Najafgarh in South West Delhi. His father, Diwan Singh,[30] was a driver in MTNL Delhi, while his mother, Kamla Devi, is a housewife.

Kumar was inspired to take up wrestling by his father, himself a wrestler, and his cousin Sandeep Solanki. Sandeep later stopped competing as the family could only support one wrestler. Kumar trained in pehlwani wrestling at the akhada (wrestling school) in the Chhatrasal Stadium from the age of 14. With minimal funds and poor training facilities for wrestling in India, even for the 2008 Olympic team, his family made sure he obtained the necessary dietary supplements by sending him tinned milk, ghee and fresh vegetables.[31][32] He is a devoted Hindu and a strict vegetarian.[33][34]

He completed his Graduation (B.P.E.) and Post-Graduation (M.P.E.) from the Noida College of Physical Education, Dadri. Kumar is presently employed with the Indian Railways as an assistant commercial manager.[10] Currently, he stands trial for the murder of rival wrestler Sagar Dhankar, rioting and using a deadly weapon.[35][36][37]

Commercial endorsements and media

"I didn’t want to be associated with a liquor brand in any form as it would send a wrong signal to the youth. The sporting tradition that I have been raised in values discipline way above money."

– Sushil Kumar explaining reason for refusing a liquor ad.[38]

Kumar endorses brands such as Mountain Dew, Eicher tractors, and the National Egg Coordination Committee which earns him ₹10 million (US$130,000) annually. He refused the offer of ₹5 million (US$63,000) to appear in a surrogate ad for a leading liquor brand.[38]

He appeared in the Indian documentary film Carve Your Destiny by Anubhav Srivastava.[39] Kumar also served as a judge on MTV India's reality television series MTV Roadies.[40] Other media appearances include in The Kapil Sharma Show and Comedy Nights with Kapil.[41]

Awards, rewards and recognition
For the bronze medal at 2008 Beijing Olympics
For the gold medal at 2010 World Wrestling Championships
  • ₹1 million (US$13,000) cash award from Indian Railways (his employer) & out-of-turn promotion from his current position of Asst. Commercial Manager.
  • ₹1 million (US$13,000) cash award from Sports Authority of India, (Government of India).
  • ₹1 million (US$13,000) cash award from the Delhi Government.
For the silver medal at 2012 London Olympics
  • ₹20 million (US$250,000) cash reward from the Delhi Government.
  • ₹15 million (US$190,000) cash reward from the Haryana Government.
  • ₹7.5 million (US$94,000) cash reward from the Indian Railways.
  • Land in Sonipat for a Wrestling academy by the Haryana Government.
  • ₹1 million (US$13,000) cash award from ONGC.[44]

Criminal case and Controversies

The Delhi Police arrested Sushil Kumar in connection with the murder of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankhar during a brawl in the Chhatrasal Stadium on 4 May 2021.[45][46][47] After arresting Kumar, Delhi Police presented him at the Rohini District Court where he was placed in a six-day remand.[48][49] In October 2021, a judge ordered Kumar continue to be held without bail. The decision was reached after arguments from both sides, and a review of evidence from the prosecution, including a video taken by an alleged accomplice of a man purported to be Kumar engaged in the attack.[50]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sushil Kumar.

References
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  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Sushil Kumar". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  3. Lokapally, Vijay (August 2003). "There's a steady improvement". Sportstar. The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. "Indian grapplers sweep gold in Commonwealth Championship". Zee News. 2 July 2005. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. "2007 – Commonwealth Wrestling Championships – Information & RESULTS". Commonwealth Amateur Wrestling Association (CAWA). Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. "Sushil wins gold at Commonwealth Wrestling". NDTV. PTI. 20 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
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  9. "Kumar claims 66kg bronze". The official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Archived from the original on 1 September 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  10. Masand, Ajai (20 August 2008). "Meet Sushil Kumar, the shy guy". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 1 September 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  11. "Mary Kom, Vijender and Sushil get Khel Ratna". The Hindu. 29 July 2009
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  13. "CWG Opening ceremony: Live Blog" Archived 4 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Geetika Rustagi, 3 October 2010 (Retrieved 5 October 2010)
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  22. Olympics: Sushil Kumar writes history, wins silver for India Archived 16 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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  24. Olympics 2012: Sushil Kumar promises a fight by Indian wrestlers. Dnaindia.com (5 August 2012). Retrieved on 5 September 2015.
  25. "In pics: Sushil Kumar, the most decorated wrestler India has produced so far".
  26. wrestling medals at the Olympics - From KD Jadhav to Sakshi Malik Olympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2021
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  28. "Man from Bansur achieved what 'Pocket Dynamo' did 56 years ago". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
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  39. DNA Mumbai: Shooting from the hip! Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  45. Sharma, Poonam (15 May 2021). "Non-bailable warrant issued against wrestler Sushil Kumar in Chhatrasal Stadium murder case". India Today. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  46. "Chhatrasal stadium brawl: Non-bailable warrants issued against Sushil Kumar, 6 others". The Times of India. PTI. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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  48. "Sushil kumar Arrest: छह दिन की रिमांड पर भेजे गए पहलवान सुशील कुमार, रोहिणी कोर्ट में किया गया था पेश". TV9 Hindi (in Hindi). 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  49. "Sushil Kumar and associate Ajay remanded to 6 days Police custody in Sagar Rana murder case". India Today. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
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