Yogeshwar Dutt, the Indian freestyle wrestler who won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics in the 60kg category, is India’s last hope to win medals in the Rio Olympics 2016. The freestyle wrestler is competing in the 65kg category at Rio today. The 2012 London Olympics silver medallist and 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medallist, Sushil Kumar recently sent his best wishes to Dutt through public media.
As tweeted by ANI, the two-time Olympics medallist Sushil said, “I want to wish all the best to Yogeshwar Dutt for today, whole of India is praying for him.”
The wrestling experts and the whole of India were considering Dutt to be the best man to bring a medal for the nation and now his fellow wrestler Kumar has urged him to fight for Gold. Reports suggested that Dutt is getting better with each of his Olympic performances. The freestyle wrestler managed to finish in 18th position in 2004 at Athens and in 2008 at Beijing, he fought and reached the quarterfinals. Dutt finally fulfilled his dream to bring home an Olympic medal after winning the bronze at 2012 London Olympics.
As quoted by India today, the Indian freestyle wrestler Kumar said "I would just like to tell Yogeshwar that the whole country is behind you, give your best and win a Gold for the country."
Also read: Yogeshwar Dutt: Will the 'Pitamah' of Indian wrestling lift Indian sports from its bed of arrows?
Since the most decorated Indian wrestler and two-time Olympics medallist could not go to the Rio Olympics after the High Court spoke in favour of Narsingh Yadav, Kumar is putting his full faith in his childhood friend Yogeshwar. Kumar spoke about his childhood days and said "Yogeshwar and I have spent a lot of time together, we have been friends since our younger days. I want to just tell Yogeshwar that the whole country is watching you today, you have to do well, you have to win a medal for the country.”
The Haryana wrestler received wishes from not only his childhood friend but also from the Sports Minister of India. The Indian Sports Minister Vijay Goel could not be with the olympian today to pat on his shoulder and provide him mental strength but the minister said in public media that Dutt is one of the best wrestlers and the country has high expectations for him.
Goel said, "Yogeshwar Dutt is one of our best wrestlers and I wish him the best of luck. The country has high expectations of him and I am confident he will give his best.” The Indian wrestler is all set to begin his quest for gold with a round of 16 battle against Mongolia’s Mandakhnaran Ganzorig.
