Padma Bhushan for Sushil Kumar?
What's the story
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has recommended two time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar's name for this year's Padma Bhushan Award. This came as a surprise as the wrestler was not on good terms with the federation. WFI has confirmed the news saying that the president of WFI has given the go ahead and a recommendation has been sent to the Sports Ministry.
Early life
Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar is an Indian wrestler born on 26 May 1983 in a village near New Delhi. He took up to wrestling after getting inspired by his cousin Sandeep, who himself was a wrestler. Sushil started wrestling from the age of 14 in Delhi. Soon he started winning junior tournaments, and won his first major tournament, the World Cadet Games, in 1998.
International career
No stopping for Kumar
After moving to senior championships and competing in the 60kg category, Sushil Kumar won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2003. He won the championship again in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Sushil earned success by winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2010, Sushil Kumar won gold medals at the Asian Wrestling Championship, World Wrestling Championship and Commonwealth Games.
Information
Sushil won silver at 2012 London Olympics
India's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, Sushil Kumar made history after winning a silver medal in the 66kg freestyle event. He became the first Indian to win consecutive individual medals at the Olympics.
Awards and recognitions
Highest sports honour for Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar was given the Arjuna Award in 2005. In 2009, the Government of Indian honoured Sushil with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country's highest sporting award. In 2011, Kumar received India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. The Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra governments gave him cash prizes after his feats at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.