Haryana cops fear for Narsingh Yadav

NEW DELHI: The ongoing tussle between Sushil Kumar and Narsingh Pancham Yadav took a serious turn with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Haryana

NEW DELHI: The ongoing tussle between Sushil Kumar and Narsingh Pancham Yadav took a serious turn with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Haryana Police claiming that Narsingh could be attacked by outsiders at the Sports Authority of India’s Sonepat centre.

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CID officials visited the Bahalgarh centre twice in two days, including Thursday, to check on Narsingh and apprise SAI authorities of the situation.

A police van also made a round of the centre on Thursday after police authorities were made aware of the CID report.

Narsingh hadn’ t joined the national camp till late on Thursday, which is being held at the centre for wrestlers who have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

SAI administrator Radhica Sreeman had written to SAI director general Injeti Srinivas to shift Narsingh and his sparring partners to another venue, possibly to SAI’s Kandivili centre in Mumbai. The request has been turned down. It is understood that SAI authorities, including Srinivas, are in touch with the police.

While SAI has decided to not act in haste, Sushil’s supporters have been active on social media with videos supporting the two-time Olympic medallist’s demand to hold trials in the 74kg category.

In fact, a supporter scribbled: “Sushil ka trial karao (Sushil should get a trial) outside the 21, Ashoka Road residence of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Narsingh, though, said he had no reason to feel threatened.

“I am aware of the report but I don’t think anyone will deliberately hurt me. We are like brothers so I am not bothered,” Narsingh, who is a deputy superintendent of police in Maharashtra, told HT on Thursday.

His personal coach Jagmal Singh, who is attached with the Indian team, said they would raise the issue with WFI.

“We have to apprise the federation of this situation. We will write to it possibly by Friday,” said Jagmal.

Meanwhile, Narsingh met Brij Bhushan on Thursday and sought assurance over his spot in the Rio-bound team. “He wanted to know whether he should concentrate on training or also prepare for the trials. He was told to concentrate on the camp,” said a source.

Sushil has demanded trials be held in the 74kg weight category in which Narsingh won the quota for the country after winning bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, USA. After the WFI turned down his request, Sushil filed a writ petition in the Delhi high court.