Sushil Kumar-Narsingh Yadav Wrestling Row: Wrestlers Should Be At Practice, Not In Court, Say Delhi Judges

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday told the Wrestling Federation of India and the Sports Ministry to conduct a fair selection trial to pick India's lone representative in the 74 kg freestyle wrestling category for the Rio Olympic Games in August.

On Monday, Sushil Kumar moved the Delhi High Court seeking fresh trials after his name was omitted by WFI for the Games' preparatory camp. Narsingh Yadav is a frontrunner for the berth after winning the bronze in the world championships in the US.

After hearing Sushil Kumar's petition, the High Court said: "Wrestlers should focus on practice and not sit here in court... I will only intervene as a last resort."

Sushil has won two Olympic medals in a lower weight category and missed much of the action this year due to injury. Narsingh Yadav has been impressive and the court acknowledged this on Tuesday.

"Can't undermine Narsingh's performance... if Narsingh wasn't there then we won't have a quota place," the court observed. India have won one quota place and it is up to the Wrestling Federation of India to select one player.

Sushil Kumar seems to be riding emotions and his past records.

The court said: "Sushil has got laurels to the country and we don't find Sushil's intentions wrong. However, India's chances in Rio shouldn't suffer."

(With inputs from Yash Chawla)