New Delhi : Omitted from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, India’s Olympic medal winning wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt on Thursday gracefully accepted the move, saying there was no point taking funds from the government when they are out of action.
Besides Sushil and Yogeshwar, the famous Phogat sisters — Geeta and Babita — faced the axe too.
“I think it is a right decision. My name should have been removed from the list since I am not in action. If I am not contributing on the mat, why should I be a part of any funding,” Sushil told PTI.
“I don’t want to take anything from anyone when I am not playing. I am a very satisfied person and I am absolutely fine with the move,” India’s lone double Olympic medallist added. While Sushil was not a part of the Indian squad at the Rio Games last year following a snub by the WFI, Yogeshwar, who bowed out in the first round, had already made it clear that Rio was his last Olympics.
So, Sushil and Yogeshwar’s exclusion from the list hardly came as a surprise.
“I agree with the decision. There is nothing wrong with it. I had already conveyed that Rio was my last Olympics, so chances of including my name in TOPS do not arise in any case.
“The government must give the funds to those kids who need it at this stage of their careers,” London Olympics bronze medal winner Yogeshwar said.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) have sent a revised list of grapplers to the Sports Ministry for funding under the TOPS, with an eye on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Apart from the stalwarts of Indian wrestling, the list also does not have the likes of Rahul Aware, Amit Kumar Dahiya and Praveen Rana, all of whom figured in the original list, made in 2015-16.
