Kumar & Sons: Wrestling's Present & Future?

Sushil Kumar has just freshened up after his post-lunch rest and is getting ready for weight training. But before he could step on to the wrestling mat at old Delhi's Chhatarsal Stadium, two 'promising challengers' are already waiting to grapple with India's only wrestler to win two Olympic medals.

These 'challengers' are Sushil's two-year-old twins, Suvarn and Suveer. This is the only time of the day when Sushil, India's most decorated wrestler, meets his sons. He says he has been living away from home for "about a year" as he prepares for the elusive Olympic gold medal.

With the dream of winning an Olympic gold, 33year-old Sushil, whose fourth successive Olympic appearance hinges on a Delhi High Court order, set to be pronounced on Monday afternoon (June 6), is preparing himself. The tide, however, seem to be turning against him, going by the oral observations of the judge. That doesn't seem to have weakened Sushil's resolve to work hard and remain in shape for the Rio Olympics, to be held in August.

Sushil, along with his large entourage, comprising his coach Vinod Kumar and a host of wrestlers, has been living in a hut-shaped room at the Chhatarsal Stadium. Although his air-conditioned hut with an LCD TV and attached bathroom, is barely 100 metres from his official residence, provided to him by Delhi government after being appointed Officer on Special Duty, Sushil says he says he has not visited his residence/wife for a long while.

"I haven't been to my house for about a year," he told Outlook with a smile, after a weight training session. As it seemed quite unbelievable, one again asks him if it was indeed true. "Yes, I am telling you the truth," pat comes the reply.

If that is true, leave aside Olympic qualification, isn't it like torturing his family members? "It's not that I've not met my wife at all during this one-year period; we meet off and on and dua-salaam ho jati hai (we do exchange greetings)," says Sushil, who married Savi, the daughter of his guru and Asian Games gold medallist Satpal five years ago, before he won Olympic silver in 2012.

On January 5, 2014, Sushil and Savi were blessed with Suvarn and — one minute later — Suveer. The kids have now grown up to ape their famous father. They particularly enjoy running on the artificial wrestling mat. They even walk, naturally, like their dad.

As Sushil is intensely focussed on his preparations, the only time he gets to meet Suvarn and Suveer is when they visit him after their father wakes up at around 6.30 pm for the evening routine — be it weight training or practice.

"Since jijaji [brother-in-law] is completely focussed on his training, this is the only time he gets to meet the kids," Luv Sehrawat, brother of Savi, told Outlook, even as he kept a close watch on livewires Suvarn and Suveer.

The twins are the cynosure of all eyes. They look keen to wrestle with everyone in their sight and throw their tiny arms at everyone's necks, much like two seasoned wrestlers about to start a bout.

While exercising, the father keeps an eye on the twins, even though Luv and others in the Sushil Kumar entourage too are always alert. Suvarn and Suveer love to deliberately fall on the soft wrestling mat, made cool by 11 split air-conditioners fitted in the circular hall.

Sushil could get more time with his kids and other family members if the Delhi High Court's order on Monday goes against him. He had moved the court against the decision of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to send his rival Narsingh Yadav to the Olympics as he (Yadav) had earned the quota place for India in the 74kh category.

From the mood of the single judge, it seems that the tide is against Sushil. And if on Monday, Justice Manmohan's order actually goes against India's most decorated wrestler, it will still have a silver lining — Sushil can finally leave the air-conditioned hut, go home and have a free-flowing bout with Suvarn and Suveer, with his wife playing the referee.