‘I get into a brawl only in the wrestling arena’
Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar will make his TV debut as a judge on the upcoming season of Roadies X4. Quiz him on why he zeroed in on this particular show and the recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest honour for sportspersons in India, candidly admits that he is not really clued into the MTV reality show. “But I have heard about it from my wife, Savi (who happens to be his guru Satpal's daughter) who has been following it from the beginning and encouraged me to go on it. TV for me is but a medium of communication and this is a good platform to engage with the youth, share my views and experiences with them,” he reasons, pointing out that last season, boxer Vijendra Singh, who has just turned pro, was on the show as one of the judges and has inspired many youngsters as a boxer and a mentor.
What kind of a judge will Sushil Kumar make, you wonder, and he says he leads by example. “I follow strict discipline in my sport and I would expect the same on the show,” he asserts, pointing out that he had been on Roadies a few years ago as a guest and had he wrestled with the contestants and judge Raghu Ram.
The Padma Shree is known in sporting circles as the “gentle giant” so why did he opt for such a rowdy beginning? Wouldn't a naach gana show have been better? He laughs pointing out that he may be seen as a gentle giant, but wrestling makes him aggressive. “No naach gaana for me,” he says decisively.
Sushil Kumar won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the London Games four years later. Will he make it a hattrick at Rio next year? “I am committed to winning gold for India in Rio. I am off to Georgia for a three-week training schedule, Rio is top priority and I am fully focused. Even when I’m on Roadies my training schedule will be fixed and my training partners will travel with me. National duty comes first,” he asserts.
Will X4, which follows Season 12 but has been named Season 14 for reasons best known to the makers, pave the way for more TV shows? “Let's see how it goes, I’m keen to engage with youth,” he shrugs. Meanwhile, two movies on wrestling, Dangal and Sultan, are underway, featuring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan respectively. Would he be open to a special appearance in either or is he giving his inputs? “It’s great to see the sport getting support from Bollywood,” he beams. “I would love to contribute to the films in any way that is possible.”
One last question: When was the last time he got into a brawl? The query is answered with a guffaw, “I get into a brawl only in the wrestling arena.”
What kind of a judge will Sushil Kumar make, you wonder, and he says he leads by example. “I follow strict discipline in my sport and I would expect the same on the show,” he asserts, pointing out that he had been on Roadies a few years ago as a guest and had he wrestled with the contestants and judge Raghu Ram.
The Padma Shree is known in sporting circles as the “gentle giant” so why did he opt for such a rowdy beginning? Wouldn't a naach gana show have been better? He laughs pointing out that he may be seen as a gentle giant, but wrestling makes him aggressive. “No naach gaana for me,” he says decisively.
Salman Khan gets upset with bad behaviour and abuses on Bigg Boss and he agrees with the actor that one shouldn’t use a mass platform to take out personal grudges. “One can be aggressive and gentle at the same time. Use aggression to win tasks,” he insists, admitting that lack of discipline and focus makes him angry. “I practice yoga and meditation to remain focused and workout to remain in control.”
Sushil Kumar won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the London Games four years later. Will he make it a hattrick at Rio next year? “I am committed to winning gold for India in Rio. I am off to Georgia for a three-week training schedule, Rio is top priority and I am fully focused. Even when I’m on Roadies my training schedule will be fixed and my training partners will travel with me. National duty comes first,” he asserts.
Will X4, which follows Season 12 but has been named Season 14 for reasons best known to the makers, pave the way for more TV shows? “Let's see how it goes, I’m keen to engage with youth,” he shrugs. Meanwhile, two movies on wrestling, Dangal and Sultan, are underway, featuring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan respectively. Would he be open to a special appearance in either or is he giving his inputs? “It’s great to see the sport getting support from Bollywood,” he beams. “I would love to contribute to the films in any way that is possible.”
One last question: When was the last time he got into a brawl? The query is answered with a guffaw, “I get into a brawl only in the wrestling arena.”
