Wrestler Sushil Kumar on Thursday dedicated his gold medal, which he won in the Commonwealth Games today, to the children who died in the accident in Himachal Pradesh.
“Every medal of mine is close to my heart and I believe that every medal that you win should be important to you. I have dedicated this medal to the children who died in the accident in Himachal Pradesh,” he said referring to the 27 children, who died after their bus fell into a gorge in Kangra valley.
On the selection controversy and questions over his fitness, he said, “That was a phase, this is also a phase.”
Sushil, a double Olympic-medallist and without doubt India’s most decorated wrestler, spent barely 10 minutes on the mat today before grabbing a gold.
The result was just the perfect response to all that he has been silent about, including being blamed by an opponent for instigating his supporters into violence during the selection trials.
.@WrestlerSushil wouldn’t let me pick him up this time đŸ˜œđŸ˜‚ #4yearslater #Commonwealth pic.twitter.com/3FhtjqlBOb
— Erica Wiebe (@ericawiebe) April 12, 2018
Proud moment. With love & blessings of fellow Indians I have Won Gold for 3rd time in #CommonwealthGames2018 .This award is a tribute to my parents, my guru Satpal Ji & @yogrishiramdev ji and kids who passed away in #HimachalPradesh bus accident #Jaihind #CWG2018
— Sushil Kumar (@WrestlerSushil) April 12, 2018
“I don’t hold on to old things because that day doesn’t come back. The medal I have won today won’t happen tomorrow. That was also a phase, this is also a phase,” Sushil said after evading the media for a good two hours on some pretext or the other.
“It’s all part of life. It’s nice that people expect so much from me,” he added with a smile on his face when the queries amplified on the turbulent build-up to the Games starting with the infamous trials in Delhi, where his supporters came to blows with those of his rival Parveen Rana.
Responding to another query on the perhaps the same issue, although it was not specifically mentioned, Sushil offered an everyday life example to stress on his point.
“In life, the moment you step out of house, there are problems waiting for you. Sometimes you don’t get a bus. If you get the bus, you are caught in traffic. These things keep happening,” he said.
The 34-year-old former world champion also responded to questions on the status of his fitness, something that has never got a clear response from him in the last one year.
“When I am fit, I try to ensure that I win in this way (the way he won today). When I am not fit, I don’t fight. I am fit right now,” he said in a crisp response.
