Postponed Tokyo Olympics gives wrestler Narsingh Yadav new hope
NEWDELHI:One Indian athlete will not be complaining about the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. Narsingh Pancham Yadav. The wrestler is currently at the end of a four-year doping ban that came into effect during the Rio Olympics in 2016. With the ban set to finish in July this year, Yadav has plenty to hope for.
“It is destiny that this opportunity has come my way,” Yadav told HT on Wednesday. “This is not the time to feel elated because the world and our country are battling a big crisis. But yes, I will be looking to make a return to the mat the moment the ban is over.”
Yadav was all set to miss the Olympics in July and August this year. Then the Covid-19 outbreak happened. But he says that he has been training hard regardless of that fact. “Now that the Olympics is postponed, if I get an opportunity to represent the country I will want to win a medal for the country in Tokyo,” he said.
“I know it will be a challenge to compete at that level (again), but I am training well and I have the experience. I have not been in touch with the federation but once things get better I will talk to them,” he added.
Yadav’s claim to fame was an infamous one. Back in 2016, Yadav and double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar were engaged in a bitter and controversial court-battle, with both vying for the only spot to represent India in the 74kg category at the Rio Olympics that year.
Back then, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had backed Yadav after he sealed an Olympic berth in the World Championships. However, in the eleventh hour, Yadav tested positive for methandienone. And to cut a long story short, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided to hand Yadav a four-year ban.
Yadav, who works for Mumbai Police, said that the support of his family kept him going during the tough period. “It has been a testing time for me right through these four years,” he said. “But I had the support of my family and coach and also Mumbai Police. And I also continued to keep myself fit and competed in dangals.” Yadav is certain that he would still want to fight in the same category that he eventually missed out on four years ago – 74kg. If he does make a return, it will result in an interesting three-way battle for the berth—between him, Sushil and Jitender Kumar, the man who won those trials for the category.
When contacted, the WFI said that if Yadav wants to make a comeback he will be given a fair opportunity. “If Narsingh wants to participate then federation will give him a chance,” said Vinod Tomar, WFI’s assistant secretary. “Now that the Olympics are postponed for a year, there will be some time before the qualification tournaments start. We will decide once the picture is clear.”