Thaindian News

London, Aug 12 (IANS) Sushil Kumar’s team celebrated the Olympic silver Sunday and hailed the wrestler for making endless sacrifices that made him the only Indian individual athlete to win back-to-back Olympic medals.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) secretary-general Raj Singh, who is a part of the Indian team, said Sushil deserved the gold medal but added that the wrestler was not well going into the final bout.

“I think the semi-final bout that Sushil won was one of the best he has ever fought. Before the final bout, he was dehydrated and started vomiting. But that is not an excuse. Sushil gave his best in the final and luck was not with him today,” said Singh.

Sushil’s personal coach Yashvir Singh was also elated at his ward’s feat.

“Sushil should get the credit for creating history. He is the only Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medal. This is a great feat for the sport in the country and I hope things will only get better from here on,” said Yashvir.

Sushil’s mentor and father in-law Satpal Singh, an Asian Games gold medallist, thanked the sports ministry for providing all the help for Delhi boy’s training.

“We are grateful to the sports ministry for providing Sushil with all facilities. But it training at Colorado Springs in the US or at Minsk in Belarus, Sushil was provided with all the top facilities. I expected a gold medal from Sushil but nevertheless a silver is also a great achievement,” he said.

Sushil’s wife Savi Singh was also ecstatic and said all the sacrifices that her husband had made in the last one year have finally paid off.

“We got married in 2010 and since then we had just two months for each other. Today all the sacrifices that he had made finally paid off. I am really happy for him. After the semi-final bout, he came to me, held my hand and said he would go for the gold. But I think luck was not with him today. But we are proud of him,” she said.