‘Besik family can keep London silver’
Call it respect for the departed or an unwritten warrior’s code.
India’s Yogeshwar Dutt, whose bronze in the 60kg freestyle wrestling at the 2012 London Games is set to be upgraded to silver after losing finalist, Besik Kudokhov’s sample tested positive in a doping re-test, wants the medal to stay with the deceased Russian’s family.
Although the official announcement is awaited, it looks likely that both of India’s medals from the mat in London will be silver. Sushil Kumar won the other, in 66kg freestyle event.
Kudokhov, a multiple world champion, died in a car crash in 2013. Yogeshwar lost to him in an early bout but progressed through the repechage rounds after the Russian reached the final.
Yogeshwar tweeted on Wednesday: “Besik Kudukhov shaandar pehelwaan the. Unke mirtyu ke baad dope test mein fail ho jana bahut dukhad hai. Main khiladi ke roop mein unka sammaan karta hoon (Besik Kudukhov was a great wrestler. It is sad this dope test result has come after his death. I respect him as a fellow wrestler).”
“Agar ho sake toh yeh medal unhi ke paas rehne diya jaaye. Unke pariwar ke liye bhi sammaan purna hoga. Mere liye manaviya samvedana sarvopari hai.” (If possible the medal should stay with him. This way the family can have their honour. For me, humanity is above everything).”
A day earlier, Yogeshwar, having lost in the first round at the Rio Games, told HT: “I don’t know whether to feel happy or sad about this news. He is dead now. I have never thought of such things, to get benefit out of someone’s misery.”