Narsingh questions Sushil’s appointment as national observer

New Delhi, June 28 

Suspended wrestler Narsingh Yadav has objected to Sushil Kumar’s appointment as a national observer, raising conflict of interest allegations in a letter to the Sports Ministry. Narsingh shot off a letter to the Sports Ministry last week, questioning how Sushil could become a national observer when he is involved with the grooming of wrestlers at the Chhatrasal Stadium’s akhada run by his father-in-law Satpal.

“Narsingh has written a letter to the Sports Ministry, raising objection on Sushil being a national observer. According to Narsingh, Sushil would favour his students from Chhatrasal as a national observer,” a top Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) official told PTI.

“Narsingh has claimed that being a national observer while training kids in his akhada is conflict of interest.”

Sushil is among 14 Olympians appointed by the Sports Minister as national observers for their respective disciplines earlier this year.

“Narsingh has also apparently written about his doubts over Sushil’s alleged sabotage attempt in spiking Narsingh’s food and drinks before the Olympics and the resultant four-year ban on him from wrestling,” the official claimed.

When Sushil was asked about Narsingh’s letter, the 34-year-old said: “That is up to him to write to anyone he feels like, raising whatever objection. I have no hard feelings for anyone or about anything. Moreover, I do not understand how it is conflict of interest. I am just a national observer, whose job is to monitor the sport of wrestling and give feedbacks to build a good squad for future Olympics.” — PTI