Just over two months to go for the Olympics and still no verdict on Sushil Kumar’s plea for selection trials against Narsingh Yadav in the 74 kg category of men’s freestyle wrestling as complete sluggishness on the federation’s part – but the Delhi High Court will look to settle the matter for good when the hearing resumes today.
So far, the hearing had been deferred repeatedly because of either party’s inability to present a case strong enough to be adjudicated in their favour. On Wednesday, Justice Manmohan posed several weighty questions for Sushil’s counsel which appeared to further worsen his chances from the present scenario.
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First off, the HC pointed out that the policy of Wrestling Federation of India which Sushil is currently challenging is the same one that had enabled him to participate in three earlier editions of the Olympics after he had earned the quota in 2004, 2008 and 2012 respectively.
In this regard, the WFI has maintained consistency while selecting the wrestler who gets to represent the country in the Games. The HC’s argument sufficed as an answer to advocate Amit Sibal’s citing of the Sports Code which mandates selection trials in major international events like the one in question right now.
In addition to that, the HC also questioned why Sushil has not featured in any tournament since the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July 2014 where he had won gold medal which remains his last notable achievement.
In a span of almost two years since then, having been absent from the competitive fray, the two-time Olympic medallist has also raised doubts on his form in his discipline.
The bench also observed that Narsingh Yadav shouldn’t be considered a pushover either since he has fetched the 2016 Rio Olympic quota by winning a medal in the World Championships in Las Vegas last September.
Although we are yet to receive final confirmation, it wouldn’t be too inaccurate to assume from the way things stand, that the sun has virtually set on Sushil Kumar’s 2016 Olympic aspirations.
