Sushil Kumar is an Indian wrestler and two-time Olympic medalist. He is known for his performances in various international wrestling events. He is also famous for carrying the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. On May 23, 2021, Sushil Kumar was arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of 23-year-old Delhi-based wrestler Sagar Dhankar.
Wiki/Biography
Sushil Kumar was born on Thursday, May 26, 1983, in Najafgarh, Delhi (40 years; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Gemini. Inspired by his father and cousin Sandeep, Sushil started training in Pervani wrestling at the age of 14 at the Akada (wrestling school) at the Chhatrasal Stadium. He completed his graduation and postgraduate studies from Sports Institute, Noida, Dadri. Sushil Kumar continued his wrestling training by joining akhada at Chhatrasal Stadium at the age of 14. He was trained by trainers and wrestlers Yashvir and Ramphal. Later, he started training under the guidance of Arjuna Award winner Satpal Singh, also known as Guru Satpal.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 5½”
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
Weight (approximately): 85kg
Body measurements (approximately): 44-34-16
family and caste
Parents and siblings
Sushil Kumar’s father’s name is Dewan Singh. His father is a former wrestler and driver for MTNL in Delhi. Sushil Kumar’s mother’s name is Kamla Devi.
Sushil Kumar with his parents and wife
wife and children
In 2011, Sushil Kumar married Savi Kumar, the daughter of his coach Satpal Singh. The couple has two sons: Suvarn and Suveer.
Sushil Kumar and his wife Savi Kumar with their sons Suvarn and Suveer
Profession
Sushil Kumar turned to freestyle wrestling and made his debut at the World Youth Games in 1998, where he won a gold medal in the heavyweight category. Later, he won the gold medal at the 2000 Asian Youth Wrestling Championships. In 2003, Sushil Kumar quit the youth league and participated in the Asian Wrestling Championships, where he won a bronze medal. Kumar won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships and finished fourth at the 2003 World Championships. He subsequently won gold medals at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2005 and 2007. In 2008, Sushil Kumar won the bronze medal for India at the Beijing Olympics. In 2012, he won a silver medal at the London Summer Olympics, becoming the first person from independent India to win two Olympic medals.
Sushil Kumar wins silver medal after London Olympics
In 2008, Sushil Kumar was awarded the rank of DSP in Haryana Police. Later, he joined Indian Railways as Chief Ticket Inspector. After his outstanding performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was promoted to Commercial Assistant Manager in 2008. Following the murder of Sagar Dhankar on May 25, 2021, Sushil Kumar was suspended from his position with the Indian Railways.
2008 Beijing Olympic Games
In the 66kg freestyle wrestling competition, Sushil Kumar lost to Ukrainian wrestler Andrei Stadnik in the first round. Then, in the rematch, he defeated freestyle wrestling coach Doug Schwab in the first round and then Albert Bartjolf in the second round to qualify for the main event. He defeated Kazakh freestyle wrestler Leonid Spiridonov 3:1 to win the bronze medal for India.
World Wrestling Championship, Moscow (2010)
In the 66kg final of the 2010 World Wrestling Championships, Sushil Kumar defeated the local favorite in Moscow, Russia’s Alan Gorgaev, 3-1, becoming the first Indian to win a world championship in wrestling.
London 2012 Olympic Games
Sushil Kumar served as India’s Olympic flag bearer at the opening ceremony. He won a silver medal in wrestling after losing to Japanese wrestler Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu in the finals.
Sushil Kumar flag bearer at London 2012
2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
Kumar won the gold medal defeating Kamal Abbas in the 74kg category at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He won the race in 107 seconds.
2018 Australian Commonwealth Games
Sushil Kumar defeated South Africa’s Johannes Botha to win the gold medal in the 74kg category. The game lasted only 80 seconds.
medal
- 2003 London Commonwealth Championships 60kg gold medal
- 2003 New Delhi Asian Championships 60kg Bronze Medal
- 2005 Cape Town Commonwealth Championships 66kg gold medal
- 2007 London Commonwealth Championships 66kg gold medal
- 2007 Kyrgyzstan Asian Championships 66 kg silver medal
- 2008 Beijing Olympics 66 kg bronze medal
- 2008 Jeju Island Asian Championships 66kg Bronze Medal
- 2009 Garland Commonwealth Championships 66kg gold medal
- 2010 New Delhi Asian Championships 66kg gold medal
- 2010 Moscow World Championships 66kg gold medal
Sushil Kumar wins medal at 2010 World Championships in Moscow
- 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games 66kg gold medal
- 2012 London Summer Olympics Silver Medal in the 66kg category
- 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 73kg gold medal
award
2008 Beijing Olympics Bronze Medal
- rupee.Ministry of Railways awards Rs 55 lakh cash incentive and promotion to Assistant Commercial Manager of Indian Railways
- rupee.Delhi government awards cash of 50 lakh
- rupee.Haryana government awards cash reward of 25 lakh
- rupee.2.5 million cash award awarded by Indian Steel Ministry
- Haryana Police DSP Job Opportunities
- rupee.Maharashtra government and MTNL award cash incentives of `10 lakh each
2010 World Wrestling Championship Gold Medal
- rupee.10 Lakh cash award from Indian Railways and ill-timed promotion of Assistant Commercial Manager
- rupee.Sports Authority of India awards cash award of 1 million
- rupee.Delhi government awards 10 lakh cash
2012 London Olympics Silver Medal
- rupee.Delhi govt awards 20 million cash
Sushil Kumar received a check for Rs.Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit donates Rs 2 crore
- rupee.Haryana government awards 15 million cash
- rupee.Indian Railways awards 75 lakh cash
- Haryana government gifts Sushil Kumar a piece of land in Sonipat for building wrestling academy
Awards
- Arjuna Award 2005
Sushil Kumar receives Arjuna Award from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
- Rajiv Gandhi Khair Ratna Award 2008
- Padma Shri 2011
Sushil Kumar receives Padma Shri from former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee
dispute
- In 2012, Chhatrasal Stadium became a premium center for those in India who are willing to learn wrestling and become national wrestlers. However, towards the end of 2012, Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt had a very public falling out and Dutt decided to leave the wrestling school and start his own wrestling school. Many coaches also left Chhatrasal and joined Dutt’s new school. By 2015, many of the country’s top wrestlers had left the wrestling academy, including Bajrang Punia.
- In 2015, Sushil Kumar was embroiled in a controversy with Mumbai wrestler Narsingh Yadav, who had qualified for the Rio Olympics. On the other hand, Sushil Kumar, who is also preparing for Rio, sought a selection trial, but the Wrestling Federation of India and the Delhi High Court rejected his request. Later, Yadav tested positive for steroids but claimed that his food was spiked by a junior wrestler from Chhatrasal during the national training camp in Sonepat. Yadav filed an FIR against him and the CBI was also involved in the case. However, in 2019, the CBI rejected the theory of sabotage raised by Yadav.
- In 2017, another international wrestler Parveen Rana claimed that Sushil Kumar defeated him and his brother after the national trials.
- On May 4, 2021, former Junior National Champion and Indian Senior National Camp wrestler Sagar Dhankar was beaten and murdered during a clash between two groups outside the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi. Further police investigation revealed that Sagar was asked to vacate the rental apartment owned by Sushil Kumar. Later, a video emerged showing Sushil Kumar and his friends beating Dhankard inside the stadium. An FIR was lodged against Sushil Kumar and five others involved in the murder. After being on the run for more than 15 days, Sushil Kumar and co-accused Ajay were arrested from an area outside Delhi’s Mundka.
favorite thing
food:
- Palanthas
- White horse sweat (butter)
actor:
Facts/Trivia
- In 2012, Sushil Kumar was approached by a liquor brand and offered him Rs 100 cr. 50 Lakhs for their advertising campaign. However, Sushil Kumar, who had never been involved in drinking alcohol, decided to reject the offer as he felt it would send the wrong message to the country’s youth.
- Sushil Kumar is a vegan who has campaigned for PETA’s Vegan Movement in the past.
Sushil Kumar at a press conference in conjunction with PETA
- During training, Sushil Kumar used to stay at the Chhatrasal Stadium, where he shared a room with twenty wrestling trainees.
- Sushil Kumar runs a charity called ‘Sushil 4 Sports’ which helps provide training and other equipment to aspiring athletes in various sports.
- Sushil Kumar was voted ‘Most Popular Athlete’ during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- In 2015, Kumar served as a judge on the reality show MTV Roadies along with Neha Dhupia, Ranvijay Singh and Karan Kundra.
Sushil Kumar joins Ranvijay Singha, Neha Dhupia and Karan Kundra on Roadies season 14 cover poster
- In an interview, Sushil Kumar talked about his fitness regime and diet plan. He revealed that he consumes a lot of white butter and milk in his daily diet.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education