Sushil’s Worlds comeback lasts just one bout
NUR-SULTAN(KAZAKHSTAN): Veteran Sushil Kumar’s return to the World Championships after eight years lasted just six minutes as he lost his opening bout to Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev of Azerbaijan here on Friday.
Using all his experience, the wily Indian had raced to a 9-4 lead but conceded seven points in a row to lose his 74kg qualification round 9-11. The Azerbaijani wrestler later lost his quarter-final to USA’S Jordan Ernest Burroughs, resulting in Sushil’s ouster from the championship.
The 36-year-old two-time Olympic medallist has been struggling for long as he had made a first round exit from the 2018 Asian Games as well. He recently returned to the mat for the first time since his defeat in Jakarta when he competed at an event in Belarus where he finished fifth.
Sushil conceded t hat he lacked stamina but promised better performances in the future. “I felt good on the mat. I was fast but definitely lacked the stamina. I also need to work on my defence,” Sushil said. “But I’m happy with this comeback. I competed better than in the Asian Games. In the coming days, you’ll see better performance. My coach is working out a plan for events I need to play. I’ll try to qualify for the Olympics from the Asian events now.”
Sushil employed a four-point throw after trailing 0-2 to take the lead and further consolidated with another four-point throw, which came from a difficult position. The Azerbaijani’s camp challenged the throw but lost the call, giving one additional point to Sushil for a 9-4 lead at the break.
However, the second period belonged to Gadzhiyev who first pushed Sushil out with a throw and then scored off a takedown and took the lead with a gut wrench from ground position.
Time was running out and Sushil appeared to be tired as Gadzhiyev scored two more points with a throw to clinch the bout.
Sushil is the only Indian to have won a world title when he triumphed in 2010 in Moscow.
In the other category which offered Olympic qualification on Friday, Sumit Malik lost his 125kg first round bout 0-2 to Hungary’s Daniel ligeti, who later lost in quarter-finals.
So far, India has clinched two Olympic quotas through Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Ravi Dahiya (57kg).