Sushil Kumar Solanki, commonly known as Sushil Kumar is considered as the most successful wrestler in the history of Indian wrestling. At the peak of his career, he was completely unstoppable and had the potential to win numerous medals for India. However, one wrong turn took Sushil Kumar's career to a place without any hope of coming back. Over the years, several wrestlers have admitted that Sushil Kumar is their idol. Babita Phogat, Antim Panghal, and Ravi Dubey are recognised wrestlers, who are inspired by Sushil Kumar's accomplishments and consider him their idol.
Sushil Kumar had won numerous medals in his career, which is why every young Indian wrestler wants to replicate the success the former achieved. For his spectacular contribution to Indian wrestling, Sushil was bestowed with a series of national awards, including the Arjuna Award (2005), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2009), and Padma Shri (2011). Before we head into his journey from winning two Olympic medals to being arrested in a murder case, let's take a look at his family background.
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Sushil Kumar was born on May 26, 1983, into a Jat family of the Solanki clan in Delhi's Baprola Village. While his father, Diwan Singh worked as a driver in MTNL's office in Delhi, Sushil's mother, Kamla Devi is a homemaker. For the uninitiated, Sushil's father, Diwan Singh was a former wrestler, who couldn't make it big in wrestling and started working as a driver. However, he saw immense potential in his son and tried his best to give him proper facilities so that Sushil could achieve the heights he had dreamt of in his younger days.
Another interesting fact about Sushil Kumar's family is that his elder cousin, Sandeep Kumar was also training to become a wrestler. But as time passed and they started training together, Sandeep realised that his cousin, Sushil had more potential than him to become a professional wrestler. At that time, their families couldn't afford to support two wrestlers, hence it was Sandeep, who sacrificed his dream to support Sushil. It was a massive sacrifice, but it paid off eventually, as Sushil Kumar made India's mark at the Olympic Games.
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At the age of 14, Sushil Kumar started training at Chhatrasal Stadium's akhada, under the guidance of renowned coach, Satpal Singh. Under his coaching, Sushil Kumar transformed into a national-level wrestler, who had the nerves to participate in international tournaments. It was in 2003 when Sushil Kumar stunned everyone after he won a gold medal at the 2003 London Commonwealth Championship and a bronze at the 2003 New Delhi Asian Championship. In the following years, he went on to win a series of medals, including four gold medals in the Commonwealth Championship, three medals in the Asian Championships, a bronze in the Asian Games, three gold medals in CWG, and a gold medal in the World Championships.
Sushil Kumar made his debut in the Olympic Games at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and battled against Kazakhstan's Leonid Spiridonov to win a bronze medal. It was a nerve-wracking tie and is still remembered as one of the most exciting wrestling matches in the history of the Olympics. Sushil attempted the difficult scissors move on Spiridonov in a crucial phase of their tie and failed miserably. Despite his best efforts, it looked like the bronze had slipped through Sushil's hands.
It was then Sushil Kumar picked himself up and again tried the scissors move on Spiridonov despite failing to do it minutes ago. However, this time, he succeeded and won the match. It was Sushil Kumar's first medal at the Olympics. After this, he participated in the 2012 London Olympics and exceeded everyone's expectations by winning a silver medal in the 66 kg category. With two Olympic medals under his belt, he became the only wrestler in India's history to win two medals at the Olympic Games, a record that is still standing tall.
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Delhi's Chhatrasal stadium is the place where 14-year-old Sushil Kumar started his dream of becoming a wrestler, and it is the same place where everything ended for him. Sushil Kumar indulged in a brawl with fellow wrestler, Sagar Dhankar after the latter abused him over the rent of a flat. According to a 2021 report on CNBC TV18, Sushil Kumar and his 17 friends beat Sagar and four junior wrestlers so badly that all of them suffered severe injuries.
What's heartbreaking is that after the intense brawl, when Sagar Dhankar was brought to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Delhi Police immediately filed an FIR against Sushil Kumar and 17 others accused in Sagar Dhankar's murder case. After the investigation, Delhi Police filed its chargesheet against Sushil Kumar and mentioned him as the prime accused in the murder case. The wrestler is currently serving his sentence in Tihar Jail and is reportedly giving fitness training to fellow prisoners.
For the uninitiated, Sushil Kumar is married to his coach, Satpal Singh's daughter, Savi, who is an MBA graduate. The couple reportedly got married on February 18, 2010. It was in January 2014 when Sushil and Savi became parents after the latter gave birth to twin boys. Currently, while Sushil is in Tihar jail, not much is known about his wife and children. It's miserable how things have turned in Sushil's life, and we hope young athletes learn from his success and downfall.
What are your thoughts on Sushil Kumar's downfall? Let us know.
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