Sushil Kumar has a recurring dream, a daydream induced with the aid of his laptop, in which he sees visions of his days of glory. Specifically, August 20, 2008 — the most glorious day of his austere, regimented life. That August day four years ago in Beijing, he beat three opponents in 70 minutes to win a bronze medal — India's second medal of the 2008 Olympics, and the second wrestling medal for the country, 56 years after KD Jadhav's bronze in Helsinki 1952. Sushil loves to replay the recordings of those fights on his laptop — to perhaps strengthen his 'fighting gene', to go on believing that what he did in Beijing can be done in London.

In London, four other Indian wrestlers want to live Sushil's dream of 2008. Three of them are men and the fourth is a lady, the first Indian woman to qualify for the wrestling at the Olympics.

The two youngsters, Amit Kumar and Narsingh, present exciting possibilities. Amit, 19, won the Dave Schultz Memorial this year, apart from a bronze in the 2012 Asian Wrestling Championship. He is very excited about London, and he knows that he can't take it lightly.

"Age won't matter, he's extremely talented," says his coach, Mahabali Satpal Singh. "He's been training since he was in Class 6, when kids don't have a clue what professional sports are. He is very sure he'd win a medal in London, and so am I!" Amit grew up idolising Sushil and Yogeshwar and often trains with them.

Narsingh Pancham Yadav, who caused a stir by winning the last World Qualifying Tournament in Helsinki in May, debuts in the Olympics after notable results in the last two years. He won the silver at the 2011 Commonwealth Championship at Melbourne and the gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Geeta Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold in the Commonwealth Games, also eyes a medal in London, hopefully gold, for which she's been training with chief coach OP Yadav and foreign expert Ryan Dobo. Born in a family of wrestlers in Bhiwani, Geeta started early training at age 12 under her father and coach Mahavir Singh. A well-known wrestler himself, Mahavir motivated his five daughters to take up the sport, and they've made him proud.

Delighted that she will become the first Indian woman wrestler to compete at the Olympics, Geeta credits her family for her success. People used to say that he was crazy to allow his daughters to wrestle. "Ever since we started, my father said his daughters would make the country proud," she told The Tribune. "I want to turn that dream into reality. In the 10 years of my career, hard work has been my mantra."

All five are medal prospects, as former Indian women coach PR Sondhi says: "In case things go smooth and none of the players suffer an injury, they can easily win two medals."

The general perception is that an athlete often gives up sport after winning an Olympics medal because nothing else remains to achieve. Not quite true for wrestler Sushil Kumar, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has seen a new beginning in his sports career and wants to continue as long as his body permits. A man of few words, Sushil doesn't believe in talking too much about his preparations. But one thing he is sure of even in his darkest dream — he’s going for the gold in London. Excerpts from an interview:

The 2008 bronze raised expectations. Does that add to the pressure?

Success does not come alone, it brings along a lot of responsibilities and I am glad that people are counting on me to win another medal for India. To be honest, I will not say that I am completely unaffected by the people's expectations but I am certainly not under any kind of pressure. There is a thin line between pressure and excitement... I’m more excited than I was before Beijing.

You were not very well known before Beijing but your medal made you a star. Now that the youngsters took up to you, how do you feel?

It is definitely heartwarming. I am grateful to God, my family, coaches and well-wishers who shaped me into what I am today. I feel extremely glad when young players come to me and tell me that they want to follow in my footsteps. That's when you feel that your hard work has paid off. But I still want to do a lot more and don't really see myself retiring soon.

How are your preparations for the London Olympics?

All the wrestlers are in the best of physical and mental condition. The recent camp at Colorado Springs has proved fruitful as we got to test our skills, speed and stamina against some good opponents. That has helped us improve on all fronts.

Which Indian wrestler is capable of winning a medal in London?

All of them are extremely talented and it can be anybody's bout on a given day. They have left no stone unturned to make their presence felt at the Olympics. I am overwhelmed to see the conviction of the wrestlers who will make their debut at London. One look at them and you know why they deserve to be there.

Your message for budding sportspersons?

Always stay focussed, keep working harder. If you achieve success, always remain grounded because if success goes to your head, you’re finished.

New Delhi, July 17
Sushil Kumar Solanki is thrilled at being chosen the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the Olympics. He considers this a very big responsibility, a great honour. "It is a privilege to be chosen the flag-bearer of the contingent. We will do our best to uphold the image of the country in the Olympics," Sushil said at a farewell function for the five-member wrestling team here today.

The humble and down-to-earth Sushil, who readily obliged numerous requests for soundbites, said the technical and fitness regimen the team underwent in the US has made him and others fit and ready for the Olympics. "We are thoroughly focussed, and our stamina has gone up," he said.

He said he would compete in the Olympics with a relaxed frame of mind, without putting pressure on himself. He did concede that people expectat a great deal of him after his bronze at Beijing 2008. "I will try my best to win a second Olympics medal," he said.

"If we get a favourable draw, both Sushil and Yogeshar Dutt can figure among the medals, even win gold," noted team leader and former international Raj Singh.

Raj Singh, also the secretary-general of the Wrestling Federation of India, said his role as the team leader will have multiple utility. Since he would be staying with the athletes in the Village, he would coach and mentor the wrestlers; and during the competition, he could play a role in contesting debatable points. "One should know when to protest against a decision, else the wrestler will get a negative point," he pointed out.

The wrestlers and their coaches — Vinod Kumar, Yashvir Singh and O.P. Yadav — were given a warm send-off at the event.

Sushil's mentor and coach, former Olympian Satpal, said after meeting Sushil Kumar and the others, his expectations of their winning medals in London have gone up. Satpal, whose daughter is married to Sushil, said the grappler has been working very hard. “For the past 12 months, he has been regularly attending the Olympics coaching camps, missing his family,” he said.

"Sushil is very confident and positive. His confidence rubs off on to others as well. I am relaxed and confident after meeting Sushil," said Satpal, who won a gold medal at the 1982 Asian Games.

President Barack Obama has said that the US men's basketball team, led by Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, has "unbelievable talent". "There's no reason we shouldn't bring home the gold," Obama said. Bryant, he added, "is such a competitor so we can expect him to do a little trash talking".

Number of competitors: 344
266 men
72 women

6 to be confirmed
The men's events run from August 5 to 12. The women's competitions are on August 8 and 9

Russia won 21 gold in the last four Olympics, 12 more than the US, including six at Beijing 2008. Iran men won four gold at the 2011 World Championship, one better than Russia

Geeta faces a big challenge. In her event, Beijing 2008 winner and world champion Saori Yoshida of Japan and Tonya Verbeek of Canada are the favourites

Alexander Karelin

Alexander Karelin was perhaps the most fearsome wrestler in the history of modern wrestling. The super-heavyweight Greco Roman specialist won gold medals in 1988, 1992 and 1996 and a silver in the 2000 Olympics. His opponents were terrified of his reverse body lift. He was undefeated for 13 years in a row

The longest contest in the Olympics was at Stockholm 1912 between Russia's Martin Klein and Finland's Alfred Asikainen— it went on for 11 hours. Before point scoring was introduced, wrestling matches continued until one wrestler was finally forced to the ground

BRIEFLY

NIS graduation ceremony
Patiala: The graduation ceremony of NIS Patiala began on Tuesday with its executive director LS Ranawat presiding the function. Dr Tej Kaul, in-charge of academics, presented a detailed report on the academic achievements of the institute since 1961. Tumpa Debnath (gymnastics) was the overall topper among women and Torak Kharpran (boxing) topped among the men. Dr Ranawat urged the graduates to vow to train at least four-five students who could represent India in international competitions. — TNS