Sushil Kumar has maintained his winning attitude despite a past fraught with challenges and low phases
Sushil Kumar’s journey from the mud pits to Olympics podiums changed the face of Indian wrestling after he won the bronze medal in Beijing Olympics in 2008. He is also the first Indian to win back individual Olympics medals and is working towards upgrading the colour of his medal in the upcoming Rio Olympics. The 31-year-old wrestler is shy, polite and humble, but ruthless when it comes to settling scores on the wrestling mat. Kumar's awards are proof of this — he won the gold medal in 66-kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championship; a silver medal in the men’s 66-kg freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics; and a gold medal in the 74-kg men’s freestyle in 2014 Commonwealth Games at Glasgow. The modest champion is working towards his goal amid a lot of unspoken tales. He shared them with DW.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH...
“Our family has a number of wrestlers, including my father and uncle. Later, my cousin Sandeep, who was elder than me, also became a wrestler. I was inspired by Sandeep and decided to follow his footsteps. He had to quit the sport due to financial issues, but by then I had decided to carry forward and chose wrestling as my profession. In fact, Sandeep sacrificed his career to help mine, which motivated me further to do well.
I belong to a lower-middle class family and my family had to work hard to ensure my daily diet and expenses, something that are basic needs for any sportsperson. Every day, my father would go from Najafgarh to Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi on his bicycle carrying my daily quota of milk and butter. I am a vegetarian and my diet meant three kg of fresh milk and a bowl of white butter every day, and 10 to 15 kg of almonds a month; and this was apart from regular food a young man needs.
The monthly expense on training and diet came to between Rs 50,000-60,000. It was a lot of money for my family members and although they had to face tough times, they sheltered me and didn't allow me to face any problems. They asked me to concentrate only on my wrestling.
It's a different story today and money is not a problem. My father’s daily routine, however, continues; the only difference is that the bicycle has made way for a car.
...THE TOUGH GET GOING
For me, it all started at the Chhatrasal Stadium’s akhara at the age of 14. The akhara (ring) was run by Indian pehelwans (wrestlers) Yashvir and Ramphal, and later by Arjuna Awardee Satpal. I also trained at the Railways camp run by Coach Gyan Singh. I endured tough training conditions, which included sharing a mattress with a fellow wrestler and living in a dormitory with 20 others. Despite all the hardships, or maybe because of them, I became state champion at 18.
I will never forget 1994, when I won the national-level school championship. You will be surprised that I was not even aware about the importance of the title back then. All I knew was that I had done something special, since my coaches were delighted and were praising me for my success.
I soon understood the meaning of winning, though. In 1998, when I won the gold at World Cadet Games in Poland, I realised I can be a world champion. There were so many good wrestlers there and when I defeated several of them, it gave me the confidence to win more medals. And I did — at the most prestigious events such as Olympics and the World Championships. I have won medals in Olympics twice, Commonwealth’ Games, World Championship and other events as well.
BUT THE MIGHTY FALL, TOO
I was disappointed during the Doha Asian Games in 2006, when I could not win the gold despite being in good form. I was disheartened, shattered and lost all my hope. Luckily, this phase didn't last too long and my coaches, friends and family helped me come out from that negative state of mind. Soon I was back with my confidence and ready to win medals for my country.
MY KNOCK-OUT MANTRA
There is no short cut to success. One has to be focused, determined, and eager to learn all the time. Discipline is key to achieving one’s target. I never try to run away from practice and always follow the coach’s instructions. I take great care to maintain my fitness. I also try to read the strengths of my opponents and gauge how they fight. It is extremely important to not only know about your opponents but respect them as well. If you take them lightly, it might cost you the game.
Success brings more responsibility. People give me respect and love, and in return, I do the same. They treat me like a star. What else could I ask for? But if I misbehave with them or am rude to them, I will lose their love and affection. There’s nothing worse than that for me. The love people have for me boosts my morale and helps me in performing better.
STAY REAL
Despite how far I have come, I do not forget my roots and have managed to not let success get to my head. I know the youth, especially young wrestlers who follow me, treat me like an icon. It gives me a sense of responsibility to be more dedicated towards wrestling. As a reason, I prefer not to be in the limelight. I believe if I maintain a low profile and stay away from the trappings of fame, I can give more time to practice, and that will help me to win gold in Rio Olympics.
India’s recent success in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships has given the confidence to Indian wrestlers that they can win medals for the country in the coming Olympics and World Championships. Our guru Satpalji and other coaches guide us to do better. In turn, I share my experience with them and they are open to looking at new techniques of wrestling I come up with.
At the same time, my father continues to work; I have asked him to sit back and rest now but he simply refuses and says, “You should focus on your wrestling and let me do my work.” A simple man, he is now nurturing a 17-year-old athlete who recently won a medal in the Asian Championship. My father is supporting him in all possible ways — this is the only way he knows how to live his life.
A NAGGING PAIN
Despite all that I have achieved, however, there is one regret I will always have — that my grandfather was not alive to see me win a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, he passed away just three months before the tournament. I still remember the day when I went to meet him after hearing that he was seriously ill. His reaction was one of surprise and he gently reprimanded me saying I should not have come to meet him since this was a crucial time for me to prepare for the Olympics. But he blessed me and told me that I was going win the medal. And I did. I only wish he was there to see his blessings bear fruit.
GRATITUDE AND GRACE
It is my family that has made me what I am today. I am also thankful to my guru, Satpalji. I can also not overlook the contribution of my support staff, which have worked hard behind the scenes to ensure I am in top form. My success is dedicated to well-wishers who never gave up on me. My dream will be fulfilled if I bag a gold medal, which I have promised to my loved ones in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics.”