Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar feels the inclusion of wrestling in the Olympics will boost the confidence of Indian grapplers at the upcoming World Championships in Budapest.
“I spoke to the wrestlers there (Budapest) yesterday and they are ecstatic. The mood in Budapest is very celebratory as all top wrestlers have reached the venue,” Sushil said on Tuesday.
The 66kg wrestler will be flying to Hungary this week for the event but remains unsure of his participation.
“My participation in the event will be ascertained after I reach there (Budapest),” he said.
Contrary to the perception that wrestling was not a spectator-friendly sport, Sushil said wrestling never lacked viewer attention and credited Fila for bouncing back after they were caught napping by the IOC.
“If you had seen matches at the London Olympics the stadiums were packed. Wrestling has always been viewer-friendly. Wrestling was dropped due to laxity of the international body (Fila). It is good that they realised their mistake and rectified it,” Sushil said.
Meanwhile, grappler Yogeshwar Dutt appealed to the suspended Indian Olympic Association to set its house in order to end India’s exile and pave the way for country’s athletes to compete under the tri-colour.
“I would like to urge the IOA to mend their ways with the IOC as soon as possible and end India’s Olympic exile.
“It’s the athletes who are suffering as they are unable to compete under the tri-colour in major international events,” Yogeshwar was quoted as saying.
The IOA has been in exile since December 2012 for electing officials charged with corruption. The world body has asked the IOC to sack “charge-framed” officials through constitutional amendments by October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 to return to the Olympic fold.