Indian wrestling sensation Sushil Kumar met yoga guru Ramdev after securing a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Kumar's relationship with Ramdev dates back to when he was a child, so much so that Ramdev said "Sushil was raised by me."
I have won at wrestling every time because I have been blessed by swamiji (Ramdev). Since childhood, I have had the blessings of swamiji.Sushil Kumar, Indian freestyle wrestler
Gold Rush
Kumar won gold in the men's 74-kg category wrestling competition at the 21st Commonwealth Games in Australia.
He defended his crown in the 74-kg category, which he had won at the 2014 edition in Glasgow, Scotland. The Haryanvi wrestler barely spent any time on the mat – his final lasting was just a minute and 20 seconds – and claimed easy victories to win his third successive gold at the games, a love affair that began at the 2010 Delhi edition.
He had won gold in the now disbanded 66-kg category at the 2010 edition in New Delhi before winning the 74-kg title at the 2014 CWG in Glasgow, Scotland.
His third CWG gold is being hailed as a big achievement on his part. After all, he returned after a hiatus of four years.
I returned to the mat after four years. It is rare to see wrestlers make such comebacks, but it is because of your wishes and the blessing of swami ji that I was able to do well.Sushil Kumar, Indian Freestyle Wrestler
Yoga guru Ramdev said:
It usually takes up to 12 years to claim a Commonwealth Games medal for the third time, and most wrestlers are exhausted by then. But Sushilji has persevered through practice, discipline and dedication. And the best part is that he is a vegetarian.Ramdev, Yoga guru
(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go toTheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit send.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)