New Delhi : India?s first world champion wrestler Sushil Kumar was accorded a grand welcome at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday.
Hundreds of fans and junior grapplers turned up at the airport, braving a heavy downpour, to receive the champion wrestler.
Sushil defeated Russian Alan Gogaev in the final of the 66kgs freestyle in Moscow, Sunday, to become the first Indian to win the World Championship
Sushil, accompanied by his coach Satpal and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) secretary general Kartar Singh, came out of the airport amidst the huge cheers from the fans.
The 27-year-old Sushil, who looked tired, said he was confident of winning the World Championship and gave the credit to his coach Satpal, who was also with him when he won the Beijing Olympics bronze medal in 2008.
?I worked hard under my coach Satpal for the last one year and I am happy that I have done it. I had no tension before the final as I was well prepared for it. I fought the bout with free mind and without any tension,” Sushil said.
“I have reached this stage because of my coach Satpal. My main focus is now the Commonwealth Games and I am confident of doing well there,” he said.
Sushil said that just before his final bout, team officials told him that he was on the brink of becoming the first Indian to win theWorld Championships.
?But even though I knew that I was going to create history, I did not put myself under any extra pressure. My preparation for the world meet was good and I was sure that winning the gold would not be an impossible task,? Sushil said.
The 3-1 win in the title-bout also made the 27-year-old the first Indian grappler to bag Olympic and World Championship medals. Sushil, who won the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, also holds Asian and Commonwealth titles.
Sushil’s gold comes after Ramesh Kumar broke India’s medal drought in the World Championship by winning the bronze in the 74-kg category last year. Uday Chand (bronze in 1961), Bishambhar Singh (silver in 1967) and female wrestler Alka Tomar (bronze in 2006) are the other World Championship medallists from India.
Sports Minister M.S. Gill also congratulated Sushil.
“With this historical win in the World Championship, Sushil has made the country proud. His achievement will inspire others also to bring laurels for the country,” Gill said.