Agency
NEW DELHI: India’s only double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar says he is raring to compete in his fourth Olympics in Rio de Janeiro later this year and wishes to remain fit for another four years to make the 2020 edition.
Sushil had earlier hinted that the Rio Olympics would be his last but now he is very much open to a fifth Olympic appearance in Tokyo 2020. The 32-year-old’s long-time friend and fellow Yogeshwar Dutt has already made it clear that Rio will be his final Olympic appearance.
“I don’t remember saying that Rio will be my last Olympics. That is not my wish. My wish is to keep competing as long as I can and why not 2020 Olympics if I am able to maintain fitness. Jab taq body fit hain tab taq khelte rahenge (I will keep wrestling as long as my body holds),” Sushil told PTI after the launch of his brainchild Sushil4Sports, an initiative aimed at supporting athletes from various disciplines.
Sushil will have to beat Narsingh Yadav in the men’s 74kg trials to reach Rio. Narsingh has already earned India an Olympic quota place by winning a bronze in the World Championship in Las Vegas in September last year.
Is he feeling the pressure of trials?
“It is very simple as far Narsingh and I are concerned. Whoever wins the trial will go to Rio. We have trained together for many years now and we are friends. Every time there is a different situation (for qualifying). I qualified at the last moment in 2012 while I had secured my berth much earlier for the 2008 and 2004 Olympics. (PTI)