Rio 2016: Narsingh Yadav seeks fairytale finish

A turbulent run-up to the Rio Games behind him, Narsingh Yadav will be eyeing a fairytale climax while old warhorse Yogeshwar Dutt would look to bid adieu with a second straight medal when India begin their Olympic wrestling campaign here on Monday.

Midway into the 17-day extravaganza, the biggest ever Indian contingent of 100-plus athletes is yet to land a medal and the onus would now be on the wrestlers to make up for it.

However, the build-up to the Rio Games hasn’t been very smooth for the wrestling contingent with Narsingh fighting to clear his name in a doping scandal till the last moments.

It is now time that Narsingh buried the ghosts of the past and concentrate on job at hands. And the wrestler is more than keen to do exactly that when he takes the mat on August 19. “I don’t want to think about it (the past) anymore. I’m just focusing on my training. I just want to win a medal for my country. That’s the only hope left for me. I am giving my 100 per cent,” Narsingh said after arriving at the Games Village a couple of days back.

In fact, there is extra pressure on Narsingh to prove his worth as he denied the only double medallist a chance to bid for a third Olympic medal.

Reigning Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs, 28, is one of the favourites to win here in the 74kg division.

Meanwhile, the biggest draw in the Indian squad is London Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, playing in his fourth and, in all probability, last Olympics.

All eyes and hopes would be pinned on the 33-year-old to end with a medal on the final day of the competition as his event — men’s 65kg freestyle — is slated on August 21.