Sushil Kumar interview: "Apart from physical strength, you also need to be mentally very strong"

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Silver medallist Sushil Kumar of India celebrates with his medal during the medal ceremony

Wrestling might be an aggressive sports but Sushil Kumar is an extremely soft-spoken, shy person. A gentleman in the true sense. He has been doing the country proud since he was 15 years old when he won gold in the World Cadet Games, and is one of the very few sportsmen who are vegetarian.

First things first: congratulations on your superb performance at the Olympics! How does it feel to be India’s only individual two-time medalist? Does this make you feel you are in a league of your own when it comes to Indian Olympians?

It definitely feels great to achieve something like this. I respect all the sportspersons and their achievements and I am just happy with the fact that I could win a medal for my country twice.

The pressure of playing in the semifinal or final round of an Olympics event is immense. What was the single biggest factor that helped you deal with the enormous pressure? Experience? Encouragement from your support group? Your confidence in your abilities?

I had self belief and never at any point of time did I think anything negative. I kept cheering myself. Of course my guruji Satpal Singh and my wife were my constant support throughout the tournament.

Some observers claim that you bit your opponent’s ear during the semis. What actually happened there?

Wrestling is not a gentleman’s sport as we all know but as far as I am concerned, I would never do such a thing. Whoever thinks that I bit Akszurekh’s ear can see the replay closely and they will know that all I did was defend myself. Maybe my head or leg hit him accidentally and that’s why he bled.

Apart from you, Yogeshwar Dutt also performed exceptionally at the Olympics. Did he ask you for any advice before the games?

Well he is like my younger brother and even if he doesn’t ask for advice I keep telling him to remain calm and confident and just give his best out there.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt of India

What goes through your mind just before a fight starts? What is the mental preparation you undertake before every match?

I keep a positive frame of mind and tell myself not to take it easy at any point of time.

Wrestling has a unique system called repechage for deciding the bronze medalist. Do you think the system gives an advantage to mid-level wrestlers, making it easier for them to win a medal?

Well, it’s a good thing according to me. You see when you compete at the Olympics level mostly all the players are equal and so it’s good to reward everyone.

What is the ideal diet for a wrestler? Tell us how being a vegetarian helps or bars you from adhering to that ideal diet.

It depends in which category you wrestle in. I wrestle in 66kg so I have to eat accordingly so that I can maintain my weight. Yes, we all know that proteins are very necessary in wrestling as we need muscles and they are abundantly found in non-veg food. So I, being a vegetarian, have to make up for it by eating nuts, milk and vegetables. My diet is managed my Ryan Fernando, who is excellent.

What would you say is a bigger factor to do well in wrestling? Diet or training?

Both are important. However, training of course is indispensable since you can’t win only with a good diet. You have to make efforts and apart from physical strength, you also need to be mentally very strong.

What sort of training do you do during the off-season?

Generally I am always training and I hardly get an off-season. I work out in the gym to maintain my body and weight.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Gold medallist Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (2nd L) of Japan, silver medallist Sushil Kumar (L) of India, bronze medallists Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhstan and Livan Lopez Azcuy (R) of Cuba celebrate with their medals during the medal ceremony

Wrestling remains an anonymous sport unless a major tournament like the Commonwealth Games or Olympics is going on. Do you think that’s a healthy state of affairs for the development of the sport?

Well now wrestling is getting some recognition and more and more people are appreciating the sport and the players. I think from now on we are sure to make some progress.

Do you think the government is doing enough to improve the condition of wrestling in India?

I know that the Haryana and Delhi governments are doing a lot for the progress of the game. I hope others will follow their example and provide wrestlers with adequate infrastructure and training facilities.

What next for you? Will you be competing in Rio in 2016 to try and win a third medal for India?

Yes, of course. That has always been my goal. To win a gold for my country. Before that, I also have Asian Games and Commonwealth Games lined up.