MIXED EMOTIONS AFTER SUSHIL’S ARREST IN MURDER CASE

NEW DELHI: There was lingering disbelief and considerable disappointment as the country’s sports fraternity came to terms with Sushil Kumar’s monumental fall from being one of India’s greatest Olympians to an arrestee in a murder case. Ironically, all this unfolded on World Wrestling Day. The chain of events has left the Indian sports fraternity shocked.

“What he has done for Indian sports is something that can never be taken away from him. That’s all I want to say at this point. Let things be clearer. I don’t want to comment more,” boxing star Vijender Singh, who has been to two Olympic Games with Sushil, told PTI.

Both Vijender and Sushil won historic bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Games. Vijender remains India’s sole male Olympic medallist in boxing.

Seasoned table tennis player A Sharath Kamal, who is gearing up for his fourth Olympic appearance, conceded that Indian sport’s image will take a hit. Kamal’s limited interactions with Sushil have taken place during social events as Olympians. “If this has actually happened, it is unfortunate and reflects badly on Indian sport, not just wrestling,” he said.

“He is one of the best athletes we have had. People look up to him. So if he has done what he has done, it will negatively impact not just wrestlers but athletes from other sports also.” Former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh, an Indian Olympic Association observer at the 2008 Olympics, recalled interacting with Sushil at the Games and said he still can’t understand what exactly went wrong with the “polite” man.