I have never been to a cinema hall: Sushil Kumar

An elusive Olympic medal for India may have changed the opinion of the world about him, but for wrestler Sushil Kumar life has been the same even after his miraculous achievement in Beijing. For a man who has been rooted firmly to the old Indian tradition of guru-sishya, practicing hard and respect for the elders is all that he knows. Wrestling is his life and he is highly satisfied with his scruffy accommodation at Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, a place where he has been staying for over a decade, learning the nuances of wrestling from his gurus. Far away from the glamorous world outside, he has never been to a movie theatre. This kind of sacrifice speaks volumes about a man who is dedicated entirely to his game.

	Related Stories
	India at Beijing: The good, the bad, and the ugly Michael Phelps: Born Special China: The Gold Factory Olympics and India: Culture needs a lift One gold…a billion hopes Beijing Olympics: Ripples – I Beijing Olympics: Ripples – II Cricket in Olympics: Bring it on!

His demeanor is unpretentious and one feels homely warmth while talking to him. In a freewheeling interview with Biswajit Jha of Zeenews.com, sitting at his akhara in Chhatrasal Stadium, Sushil Kumar unravels several unknown facets of his life and the game that brought laurels for the country at the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza. Excerpts: How much has your life changed after Beijing Olympics? Not much. It’s the same routine for me…I am practicing as hard as I used to, except the fact that a lot of people know me now. How do you feel when you hear that a Delhi road will be named after you? It feels good. These things motivate you to do more. But had I not got these adulations, life would have been the same for me.What is the secret of your success? It’s all about the love for the game and hard work. There is no substitute for hard work. And one has to have the josh (killer instinct) to succeed at highest level. What’s your next goal? Performing well in 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and in 2012 London Olympics. For how long you have been staying at Chhatrasal Stadium? For 11 years, since I was in the 7th standard. How long do you practice? On a normal day I practice from 4 to 9 am in the morning and then from 5 to 7 pm in the evening. How did you take to wrestling? My parents, grandparents and my elder brother, who was also a national level grappler, wanted me to take to wrestling. They encouraged me a lot. Did you ever think that it’s enough….nothing will happen to me…it’s a land only for cricketers…did you ever think of quitting? It’s true that sometimes I used to get upset…it sometimes hurts when you do everything for your country but still don’t get recognition. But I never ever thought of quitting because wrestling is my life and I can’t live without it. You are staying in a place which is dilapidated. Are you planning to shift your base to a posh colony since you got lot of money after Olympics? No. I am satisfied with everything I have. This stadium has given me everything…how could I complain about this place. I can’t leave it. Do you have a girl friend? No. I don’t have any girl friend(grins). Are you planning to get married since you are presently one of the most eligible bachelors in India? Actually, I don’t think about marriages and all these things. It’s not in our family tradition to arrange your own marriage. These things will be taken care of by my parents and my coach. Tell me something about your diet I eat lots of almond, butter, ghee, fruits and drink milk (3-4 liters). What do you do apart from wrestling? After practice we watch videos of international wrestlers. I play other games like volleyball, basketball in the stadium. And films….do you watch films? Not much…sometimes I watch films on TV, but I have never been to a cinema hall to watch a movie. Why don’t you use mobile phone? (It was so hard to contact Sushil!) I consider it as a distraction…I don’t need it! Do you watch cricket? Who is your favourite cricketer? Sometimes….I like Sachin because he is so humble and down to earth. Do you know Sehwag who hails from Najafgarh too? Not personally…but I have met him a couple of times during felicitation programmes. What is the difference between our wrestlers and the wrestlers of other countries? We are probably more talented. But the wrestlers of other countries get more facilities in terms of infrastructure. What’s the future of wrestling in India? Lots of talented players are coming up these days. And after the Olympics, a lot of young boys are getting themselves enrolled here. What are the traits of a good wrestler? Power, speed and most importantly brains. Contrary to the popular belief, wrestlers need to use their brain a lot (laughs). Your message for the younger generation wrestlers Work hard whatever the situation may be. Never forget your roots and respect your elders. For full coverage on BEIJING OLYMPICS, Click Here »