Sticking to its stand of not holding trials in 74kg category, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) met Sushil Kumar on Tuesday and explained its stand of sending Narsingh Pancham Yadav to represent India at the Rio Olympics.
WFI, led by its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also heard the side of Sushil, who attended the meeting along with his mentor and father-in-law Satpal Singh.
The meeting was held as per the directive of Delhi High Court which had asked WFI to speak to the double Olympic medallist and sort out the issue. Others present in the meeting were Senior vice-president ID Nanavati, secretary VN Prasood, and chief national coach Jagminder Singh.
Sushil had moved court requesting a trial in 74 kg weight category to select India' representative to Olympics. The WFI had refused to hold a trial and backed Narsingh who won the quota for the country by winning a bronze in 2015 Worlds.
"As directed by the court we held the meeting with Sushil. Satpal ji also came through as per the court it was supposed to be a five-member meeting. But we allowed him as he has been a senior wrestler himself," Brij Bhushan told Deccan Herald.
"We put out our point of view stating that how can we leave out a wrestler in form and who has qualified on merit. Their (Sushil and Satpal) contention was that a trial took place in 1996 for India's Olympic representation between Pappu Yadav and Kaka Pawar, therefore, they should also get a chance.
“We told them that happened because it was an invitation through a wildcard. Regardless, the meeting took place peacefully where both the parties put their points of view.
“We will now be sending our impression on the issue to the court on May 23." Sushil too claimed it to be a positive meeting. " It was a positive meeting. I am happy the way it went.
“I am not against WFI, they have helped me a lot. I am only asking for a trial," he said. However, the 32-year old iconic wrestler's chances for another Olympic representation appear to rather bleak with WFI firm in its stand of not holding any trial.
The desperate grappler had knocked on the door of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before moving High Court.
He had been out of competition owing to injury since winning the gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Published 18 May 2016, 20:27 IST