Sushil Kumar won gold at the Wrestling Nationals in Indore in the 74kg category. (Source: PTI) Sushil Kumar won gold at the Wrestling Nationals in Indore in the 74kg category. (Source: PTI)

Sushil Kumar ended his barren run of nine years without a Wrestling Nationals gold medal on Friday when he secured the win in the 74kg category. However, his return to the mat after nearly three years has come with controversy. The Olympic medallist had to compete in just two of five bouts with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final all walkovers in Indore. This unopposed path has left a bad taste in the mouth for many including Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar.

In the tweet, Farhan wrote, “I hold @WrestlerSushil in high regard for all he has achieved through hard work, discipline, blood and sweat. Sincerely hope he does not accept the gold in this manner. It’s not sportsmanlike.” Praveen, Sachin Rathi and Parveen Rana all entered the wrestling area, touched Sushil’s feet and left without competing. As a result, the referee raised Sushil’s arm each time indicating a win.

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Among the mixed reactions, there were some who celebrated the return of the champion wrestler but there were some who questioned his manner of victory and called it a “sham” and “unsportsmanlike”.

I hold @WrestlerSushil in high regard for all he has achieved through hard work, discipline, blood and sweat. Sincerely hope he does not accept the gold in this manner. It’s not sportsmanlike. pic.twitter.com/Nv7WuOSJJz — Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) November 18, 2017

Akhtar’s tweet, too, drew varied response from Twitter users. While there were some who supported the actor and the stance while calling for Sushil to return the medal, there were some who pointed out that a walkover was well within the rules.

His twitter TL doesn't support your sincerely hope sir…. His celebrations of the teesri,chauthi,paanchvi jeets r nauseating … 🙏 #ThisIsNotSports 👎👎👎👎 — Arun (@Armenon83) November 18, 2017

This is utter non sensical display of sportsman spirit by all d 4 wrestlers and even more esp by Sushil. Sushil bhai, walkover Karna tha toh kisi lampat ko apni jagah bhej dete. National championship ki aisi dhajjiyan na udaate. #disgusted to hear this. 😫😫😫 — Anand Singh (@ananndsingh1208) November 18, 2017

U slog ur life uptil nw and get a chance to test urslf agnst the best n u do dis.Dey wld hv lrnd more in dis 5min thn thy hv in der lifetime — archit wahi (@ruuuuuuuuuuud) November 18, 2017

Some sports of India as so traditional that they r almost holy

surviving for centuries not on corporate sponsorships or TRPs but traditions and culture

Im happy today that the "kushti and akhada" culture has survived all the tests of time n will evolve

It's but India's Sumo Wrst — DЯ SЦMIT GΛΉLӨT (@jat_guerilla) November 18, 2017

with whom shld he compete when theres no one to compete with. Winning thru walkovers is common in sports — Vikas kapoor (@_vikaskapoor) November 18, 2017

Where do you stand on the debate? Is Sushil justified in celebrating such a win or do you believe there is little he can do when the opponents pull out?

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