New Delhi: Well aware that a single moment of glory at the London Games may well change their lives, Indian wrestlers are determined to put up an impressive show in the upcoming Olympics.
While Sushil Kumar has tasted success at the Beijing Games in 2008, his long-time friend and fellow grappler, Yogeshwar Dutt, and youngsters Narsingh Pancham Yadav and Amit Kumar see London as an opportunity to realise their unfulfilled dreams.
“I lost my quarter-final bout in Beijing by a narrow margin, that pain is still there so I do not want to let go this chance easily,” said Yogeshwar, who conceded that this may well be his last Olympic appearance.
The 29-year-old grappler from Haryana, however, said that his preparations were going on well and he was confident of a good show.
“The camp in Colorado Springs (USA) was very effective. We got a chance to analyse our game and test our skills against some of the best wrestlers,” the 60kg freestyle wrestler said on the sidelines of a send-off function here on Tuesday.
Sushil, on whose sturdy shoulders rests a more than billion hopes, said he doesn’t want to think about the medal and just wants to give his best on the mat.
“If I will think about the medal, I won’t be able to concentrate on my game,” said Sushil, a view that his mentor and coach Satpal Singh endorsed.
“Sushil is an emotional guy and I am really worried with the kind of pressure that is being built around him for getting a gold in the Olympics, but I get solace from his calm and composed demeanour,” Satpal said.
The Delhi lad, who will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Games, said that he felt elated at the honour being bestowed upon him, but pointed that with every big thing there comes an additional responsibility.
“I am really thankful to the people of my country that they have shown faith in me. But with every honour there comes an additional responsibility and I don’t want to let down my countrymates,” he said.
The seasoned grappler rated the current wrestling contingent as one of the best to have competed in the Olympics and insisted that all five of them stand a good chance at the event.
The youngest member of the team, Amit Kumar, on the other hand is relishing all the fanfare around him. The 19-year-old doesn’t want to stress himself too much by thinking about the Games and is rather considering the mother of all sporting events as just another tournament.
“I never expected that I would make it to the Olympics in 2012. I was preparing myself for the 2016 event, but it has come as a sweet surprise for me also,” he said.
The first and lone Indian woman grappler to participate in the Games, Geeta Phogat, is also calm about the Games.
“A little bit of pressure is always good, but I am not thinking much about winning the medal. My focus rather is on giving my best on that particular day,” Geeta said. (PTI)