Sushil Kumar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sushil Kumar

Kumar in 2014
Personal information
Nationality	Indian
Born	(1983-05-26) 26 May 1983 (age 42) Delhi, India
Height	166 cm
Weight	66 kg
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle
Club	NIS, Delhi
Coached by	Satpal Singh
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing  India Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games - 1 1 World Championships 1 - - Asian Games - - 1 Commonwealth Games 3 - - Asian Championships 1 1 2 Commonwealth Championship 5 - 1 Olympic Games Silver 2012 London 66 kg Bronze 2008 Beijing 66 kg World Championships Gold 2010 Moscow 66 kg Commonwealth Games Gold 2010 Delhi 66 kg Gold 2014 Glasgow 74 kg Gold 2018 Gold Coast 74 kg Asian Games Bronze 2006 Doha 66 Kg Asian Championships Gold 2010 New Delhi 66 kg Silver 2007 Bishkek 66 kg Bronze 2003 New Delhi 60 kg Bronze 2008 Jeju Island 66 kg Commonwealth Championship Gold 2003 London 60 kg Gold 2005 Cape Town 66 kg Gold 2007 London 66 kg Gold 2009 Jalandhar 66 kg Gold 2017 Johannesburg 74 kg
Updated on 26 February 2018.

Sushil Kumar (born 26 May 1983) is a famous Indian wrestler. He has won two Olympic medals, which is a great achievement! His bronze medal in 2008 was only the second Olympic wrestling medal for India. It was the first since 1952.

In July 2009, Sushil Kumar received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. This is India's highest honor for sportspeople. He also carried the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Sushil won gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He is the first and only Indian wrestler to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships.

Sushil Kumar's Wrestling Journey

Sushil Kumar at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Sushil Kumar started learning pehlwani wrestling when he was 14 years old. He trained at the akhada (wrestling school) in Chhatrasal Stadium. His coaches included Yashvir, Ramphal, and later Arjuna Award winner Satpal. He also trained at the Indian Railways camp.

After moving to freestyle wrestling, Sushil had his first big win. He won a gold medal at the World Cadet Games in 1998. Then, he won another gold at the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship in 2000.

In 2003, Sushil won a bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships. He also won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships. He placed fourth at the 2003 World Wrestling Championships. In 2004, he competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He won more gold medals at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2005 and 2007. He earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Sushil Kumar won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This made him the first person from independent India to win two Olympic medals. He received the Arjuna Award in 2006. The Indian Government also honored him with the respected Padma Shree award in 2011.

Beijing Olympics 2008

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Sushil Kumar lost his first wrestling match. But he still had a chance to win a medal through the "repechage" system. He won two more matches to reach the bronze medal match. On August 20, 2008, he won the bronze medal. Sushil shared that his team manager helped him between his matches.

World Championship Win in 2010

At the 2010 World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Sushil Kumar made history. He became the first Indian to win a world title in wrestling. He won the final match against Alan Gogaev from Russia.

Commonwealth Games Gold in 2010

Sushil Kumar won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He won his final match against Heinrich Barnes. The referee stopped the match in the second round because Sushil was so far ahead. In the semifinals, he won very quickly, in just 9 seconds!

London Olympics 2012

Sushil Kumar (left) at the 2012 Olympics

Sushil Kumar won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He lost the final match to Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu. Sushil was also the flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony. This silver medal made him the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals since India became independent.

Commonwealth Games Gold in 2014

Sushil Kumar won another gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He defeated Qamar Abbas in the final match. He won by "fall" in just 107 seconds.

Commonwealth Games Gold in 2018

On April 12, 2018, Sushil Kumar won his third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. He won in the 74 kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. He beat Johannes Botha from South Africa in a final match that lasted only 80 seconds.

Sushil Kumar's International Competitions

Summer Olympics Results

Year	Competition	Venue	Event	Rank	Opponent	Score	Repechage Opponent	Score
2012	2012 Olympic Games	London	66 kg		Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (JPN)	Loss
2008	2008 Olympic Games	Beijing	66 kg		Andriy Stadnik (UKR)	Loss	Leonid Spiridonov (KAZ)	Win
2004	2004 Olympic Games	Athens	60 kg	14th	Yandro Quintana (CUB)	Loss

World Championship Results

Year	Competition	Venue	Event	Rank	Opponent	Score	Repechage	Score
2019	2019 World Wrestling Championships	Nur-Sultan	74 kg	20th	Khadzhimurad Gadzhiyev (AZE)	Loss
2011	2011 World Wrestling Championships	Istanbul	66 kg	14th	Andriy Stadnik (UKR)	Loss
2010	2010 World Wrestling Championships	Moscow	66 kg		Alan Gogaev (RUS)	Win
2009	2009 World Wrestling Championships	Herning	66 kg	5th	Rasul Dzhukayev (RUS)	Loss	Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu (JPN)	Loss
2007	2007 World Wrestling Championships	Baku	66 kg	7th	Andriy Stadnik (UKR)	Loss
2006	2006 World Wrestling Championships	Guangzhou	66 kg	13th	Elman Asgarov (AZE)	Loss
2003	2003 World Wrestling Championships	New York City	60 kg	4th	Arif Abdullayev (AZE)	Loss

Sushil Kumar's Life

Sushil Kumar was born in a Jat family in Baprola village, near Najafgarh in South West Delhi. His father, Diwan Singh, worked as a driver. His mother, Kamla Devi, is a homemaker.

Sushil was inspired to wrestle by his father, who was also a wrestler. His cousin, Sandeep Solanki, also wrestled. Sandeep later stopped competing so the family could support Sushil's wrestling career. Sushil trained at the akhada (wrestling school) in Chhatrasal Stadium from age 14. Even with limited money and training places in India, his family made sure he had good food. They sent him milk, ghee, and fresh vegetables. Sushil is a devoted Hindu and a strict vegetarian.

He studied Physical Education in college. Sushil Kumar works for the Indian Railways as an assistant commercial manager.

Endorsements and Media Appearances

Sushil Kumar has worked with several brands. These include Mountain Dew and Eicher tractors. He also supports the National Egg Coordination Committee. He has appeared in the Indian documentary film Carve Your Destiny. Sushil was also a judge on MTV India's reality TV show MTV Roadies. He has appeared on other TV shows like The Kapil Sharma Show and Comedy Nights with Kapil.

Awards and Recognition

Sushil Kumar has received many awards and honors for his achievements:

• Arjuna Award, 2005
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award (joint), India's highest sporting honor.
• Padma Shri, 2011

For his bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he received:

• Cash awards and a promotion from the Railway Ministry.
• Cash awards from the Delhi Government and Haryana Government.
• Cash award from the Steel Ministry of India.
• Cash award from R K Global.
• The rank of DSP in the Haryana Police.
• Cash awards from the Maharashtra State Government and MTNL.

For his gold medal at the 2010 World Wrestling Championships, he received:

• Cash awards from Indian Railways and a promotion.
• Cash awards from Sports Authority of India and the Delhi Government.

For his silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, he received:

• Cash rewards from the Delhi Government and Haryana Government.
• Cash reward from the Indian Railways.
• Land in Sonipat for a Wrestling academy from the Haryana Government.
• Cash award from ONGC.

See also

In Spanish: Sushil Kumar para niños

• India at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 66 kg
• Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 66 kg
• Wrestling