International referee from India, Ashok Kumar has been selected for officiating in the Rio Olympics next year. This is the first time in the in the Indian wrestling history that a referee from India will be officiating at the Olympic Games.

A total of 50 referees, including supervisors and instructors, have qualified for the Olympics. The United World Wrestling (UWW) has picked nine referees from Asia and Ashok Kumar, currently serving as a warrant officer in the Indian Air Force, is the only one from India.

The referees have been selected based upon their performance during the 2015 World Senior Wrestling Championship held at Las Vegas from September and subsequently the clinic conducted for these referees at Sochi, Russia from December 11-13.

Ashok Kumar has participated in more than 50 international tournaments as referee.