New Delhi: When Ravi Dahiya lost his final bout in the 57 kg freestyle final on Thursday, India mourned. And, it was no different for two-time Olypmic medal winner Sushil Kumar, for his 'mentee' had just lost a keenly contested battle for gold. Kumar had in 2008 ended 56-year-old India's drought for an Olympic bronze medal. He went on to win a silver in the 2012 London Olympics. The 38-year-old, now tainted wrestler, remained glued to the television set at Cell Number 2 in Tihar jail, unable to believe Dahiya's loss to Russia's Zaur Uguev.
Jail staff said Kumar was "emotional" and "moist-eyed" as he believed the 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana would bring home India's first gold medal in this year's Olympics. Both are products of Delhi's Chhatrsal Stadium in, the Mecca for Indian wrestlers. In fact, it was Kumar's heroics in the 2008 Olympics which had inspired a young Dahiya to take up wrestling as a profession. Not only this, Kumar also helped Ravi perfect some of his grapples.
Also read: Ravi Kumar Dahiya settles for silver in 57kg wrestling final
Kumar, who is the key accused in the murder of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar, has been lodged in jail since May. Citing that he is a sportsman, Kumar had sought a TV in his cell so he could watch Olympics and the prison authorities had granted it.
In connection with the murder case, the Delhi Police on August 2 filed a charge sheet against Kumar and 19 others. The final report, which named Kumar as the main accused, has been filed before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Satvir Singh Lamba.
