WFI says Narsingh is 'better prospect' for Rio Olympics

NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) backed Narsingh Pancham Yadav on Friday as a "better prospect" than Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to win a medal for India in the 74kg freestyle category at the Rio Olympics 2016.
WFI told Delhi High Court that Yadav has been trained well and had thus won an Olympic quota for the country. WFI claimed Yadav won a bronze medal in the World wrestling championship 2015, and remains the "most suitable wrestler" in comparison to Sushil who "consistently" avoided facing him during the last two years in selection trials.
However, Sushil countered the claims and alleged WFI didn't even consider him for trial because he refused to participate in the cash-rich 'Pro-Wrestling League'.
"They (WFI) cannot take such an arbitrary stand that since you (Sushil) have not participated in the Pro-Wrestling League, you will not be given a chance to have a trial," senior counsel Amit Sibal, appearing for Sushil, told Justice Manmohan.
WFI, however, maintained in its affidavit: "Yadav has been found to be the best wrestler to represent India in the upcoming Olympic Games. The selection has been made in a completely fair and transparent manner. No allegation of any bias, favouritism or any other prejudice have been made in the petition."
The affidavit pointed out that Yadav, who was present in courtroom during the hearing, is clearly a better candidate in 74kg category as he is "dominantly" playing in this weight category since 2006 while Sushil had contested in 66 kg category till January 2014.
After his name did not figure in India's Rio preparatory camp, 32-year-old Sushil had moved the High Court with a plea to direct the WFI to conduct a selection trial to decide who will represent India in the men's 74kg category.
WFI told the court that the decision to send 26-year-old Yadav to Rio was taken by it in a "discreet manner" after evaluating performance of wrestlers in this weight class on the basis of their achievements, current performance and assessment of the chief coach and the trainers in the training camps.
Senior advocate Nidesh Gupta, representing Yadav argued that "if a trial is conducted today, the qualification events of 2015 would be rendered meaningless." He stressed the selection was made by following a fair process and nothing "arbitrary or perverse" has happened.
On Sushil's allegation that he was not been given a trial as he had not participated in Pro-Wrestling League, the WFI said there was no bias towards Sushil. "Till date, there has not been even a solitary instance in India or to the best of our knowledge, even in the world, that the person who has won a quota for his country has not been sent for the Olympics," the WFI said.
The court has posted the matter for further arguments on May 30.