Bronze in 2008, silver in 2012
13 Aug 2012 6:36 AM IST
The wrestler Sushil Kumar created history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian to win back-to-back individual Olympic medals, but the coveted gold medal eluded him as he lost the men's freestyle 66 kilogramme category final to his Japanese opponent rather tamely at the ExCel Arena on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Kumar found the Japanese Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, a tough opponent, as he carved out a 3-1 victory to shatter the his hopes of winning a gold medal.
With the addition of Kumar's silver medal, India completed its engagements in the 30th edition of the Olympics with a record haul of six medals – two silver and four bronze – but no one could win a gold. In Beijing, India had won one gold and two bronze medals.
Kumar, who was cheered by the flag-waving Indian spectators, was down with dehydration when he took the mat for the final and that had a bearing on his performance.
'I had a stomach problem just after the semi-final because of the dehydration. I lost weight and was feeling a little weak. But, we have got a silver medal and we will try for gold medal in the next Olympics,' Sushil said after the medal ceremony.
'I had said about 15 days ago that we will do well. It was a question of what will be the colour of medals. I am happy that Yogeshwar won a bronze and our performance will keep improving,' he said.
In the final, Kumar found the going tough against the Japanese who just did not allow the Indian to grip him at all. He tried desperately to get a breakthrough but without much luck as the Japanese wrestled intelligently. The Japanese won the first round 1-0 and took the second round 3-1, during which he picked up Kumar on his shoulder and brought him down, effectively ending the Indian's chance.
'It was bronze in Beijing, and now it's a silver. So, we are are gradually going up and may be in the next Olympics, I will be able to win the gold medal,' Sushil said.
After winning the semifinal match on Sunday, the wrestler Sushil Kumar surprised all in the arena and those watching him on television, as instead of taking a victory lap he preferred climbing several steps to join his mentor Mahabali Satpal in the stands. It is no mean achievement for Satpal and his training centre at Chatrasal Stadium to have produced two medal winners – Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, who won Bronze medal on Saturday in 60-kg freestyle category – this Olympics.
During an interaction with Millennium Post at the Chatrasal Stadium a few days before the team left for the London Olympics, Satpal had said, 'I have hopes in both Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt.' Indeed, both his students have made his dream come true, though they missed an Olympic gold. Satpal who is one of India's renowned wrestlers and coaches.
Satpal has created a quality training centre at the stadium, which was refurbished for the Commonwealth Games. He took over the management of the stadium about two years ago.
POST MEDALS, IT’S RAINING MILLIONS FOR SUSHIL
It's raining millions for Olympic silver medalist Sushil Kumar with the Haryana government announcing a cash award of Rs 1.5 crore within minutes of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit announcing an award of Rs one crore to the Olympic silver medalist. Sushil who has become the first Indian wrestler to win a silver in wrestling competition in the London Olympics, has suddenly found a benefactor in Haryana government, which is claiming Sushil to be their resident.
'Sushil has become the first Indian wrestler to strike silver in wrestling competitions at London Olympics. He has, in fact, made history,' Dikshit said in a statement. She added that every Indian was proud of his feat. 'His dedication, hard work and apt training yielded good result. Sushil has brought laurels for Delhi and the country,' said the chief minister.
The 29 year old resident of Najafgarh in south-west Delhi has created history by becoming the first Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals by winning a silver at the London Games. Celebrations were being held across Najafgarh after Sushil reached the finals of the competition.
All relatives, friends and well-wishers of Sushil assembled at Sushil's house to witness history in the making. Although, after losing the final there was a little disappointment amongst his relatives, it didn't last long.
Later, drums were played and residents rejoiced the silver medal which Sushil had won.
Supporters were dancing down the street to celebrate their local heroes' victory.
Sushil's mother had also reportedly been on a fast and was praying constantly to boost the chances of her son winning a medal.
Sources close to Sushil said that the Delhi government had also helped Sushil a lot right from the time that he participated in and won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008 to his latest achievement.
Sushil's coach, the renowned veteran wrestler of India, Mahabali Satpal, is the deputy director for education of sports and physical education in the Delhi government.
Sources added that the general-secretary of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi is a good friend of Sushil and Gandhi personally asked Dikshit to look after the training infrastructure of Sushil.
Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also announced to that Sushil will be given a piece of land to set up his wrestling academy in Sonepat. The Indian Railways has also announced a cash award of Rs 75 lakhs for the champion.
The 29-year-old Kumar found the Japanese Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, a tough opponent, as he carved out a 3-1 victory to shatter the his hopes of winning a gold medal.
With the addition of Kumar's silver medal, India completed its engagements in the 30th edition of the Olympics with a record haul of six medals – two silver and four bronze – but no one could win a gold. In Beijing, India had won one gold and two bronze medals.
Kumar, who was cheered by the flag-waving Indian spectators, was down with dehydration when he took the mat for the final and that had a bearing on his performance.
'I had a stomach problem just after the semi-final because of the dehydration. I lost weight and was feeling a little weak. But, we have got a silver medal and we will try for gold medal in the next Olympics,' Sushil said after the medal ceremony.
'I had said about 15 days ago that we will do well. It was a question of what will be the colour of medals. I am happy that Yogeshwar won a bronze and our performance will keep improving,' he said.
In the final, Kumar found the going tough against the Japanese who just did not allow the Indian to grip him at all. He tried desperately to get a breakthrough but without much luck as the Japanese wrestled intelligently. The Japanese won the first round 1-0 and took the second round 3-1, during which he picked up Kumar on his shoulder and brought him down, effectively ending the Indian's chance.
'It was bronze in Beijing, and now it's a silver. So, we are are gradually going up and may be in the next Olympics, I will be able to win the gold medal,' Sushil said.
After winning the semifinal match on Sunday, the wrestler Sushil Kumar surprised all in the arena and those watching him on television, as instead of taking a victory lap he preferred climbing several steps to join his mentor Mahabali Satpal in the stands. It is no mean achievement for Satpal and his training centre at Chatrasal Stadium to have produced two medal winners – Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, who won Bronze medal on Saturday in 60-kg freestyle category – this Olympics.
During an interaction with Millennium Post at the Chatrasal Stadium a few days before the team left for the London Olympics, Satpal had said, 'I have hopes in both Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt.' Indeed, both his students have made his dream come true, though they missed an Olympic gold. Satpal who is one of India's renowned wrestlers and coaches.
Satpal has created a quality training centre at the stadium, which was refurbished for the Commonwealth Games. He took over the management of the stadium about two years ago.
POST MEDALS, IT’S RAINING MILLIONS FOR SUSHIL
It's raining millions for Olympic silver medalist Sushil Kumar with the Haryana government announcing a cash award of Rs 1.5 crore within minutes of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit announcing an award of Rs one crore to the Olympic silver medalist. Sushil who has become the first Indian wrestler to win a silver in wrestling competition in the London Olympics, has suddenly found a benefactor in Haryana government, which is claiming Sushil to be their resident.
'Sushil has become the first Indian wrestler to strike silver in wrestling competitions at London Olympics. He has, in fact, made history,' Dikshit said in a statement. She added that every Indian was proud of his feat. 'His dedication, hard work and apt training yielded good result. Sushil has brought laurels for Delhi and the country,' said the chief minister.
The 29 year old resident of Najafgarh in south-west Delhi has created history by becoming the first Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals by winning a silver at the London Games. Celebrations were being held across Najafgarh after Sushil reached the finals of the competition.
All relatives, friends and well-wishers of Sushil assembled at Sushil's house to witness history in the making. Although, after losing the final there was a little disappointment amongst his relatives, it didn't last long.
Later, drums were played and residents rejoiced the silver medal which Sushil had won.
Supporters were dancing down the street to celebrate their local heroes' victory.
Sushil's mother had also reportedly been on a fast and was praying constantly to boost the chances of her son winning a medal.
Sources close to Sushil said that the Delhi government had also helped Sushil a lot right from the time that he participated in and won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008 to his latest achievement.
Sushil's coach, the renowned veteran wrestler of India, Mahabali Satpal, is the deputy director for education of sports and physical education in the Delhi government.
Sources added that the general-secretary of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi is a good friend of Sushil and Gandhi personally asked Dikshit to look after the training infrastructure of Sushil.
Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also announced to that Sushil will be given a piece of land to set up his wrestling academy in Sonepat. The Indian Railways has also announced a cash award of Rs 75 lakhs for the champion.
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