Yogeshwar Dutt, the freestyle wrestler of India, won a bronze medal in London Olympics 2012 but yesterday, we informed you that his bronze was to be upgraded to silver as Russian freestyle wrestler Besik Kudukhov who won the silver medal in the 60 kg freestyle division was tested positive for doping.
However, Yogeshwar showed no interest in collecting the upgraded silver medal as humanity is above everything else for him since Besik’s making use of prohibited substances was revealed only after his demise.
The Indian wrestler took to Twitter and expressed his feelings, “Besik Kudukhov was a magnificent wrestler. His dope test returning positive after his death is very sad. As a wrestler, I respect him.”
Besik Kudukhov शानदार पहलवान थे। उनका मृत्यु के पश्चात dope test में fail हो जाना दुखद हैं। मैं खिलाड़ी के रूप में उनका सम्मान करता हूँ।
— Yogeshwar Dutt (मोदी का परिवार) (@DuttYogi) August 31, 2016
He also tweeted, “If possible he must be allowed to keep the medal. It will keep his family’s honour intact. For me humanity is above everything else.”
अगर हो सके तो ये मेडल उन्ही के पास रहने दिया जाए। उनके परिवार के लिए भी सम्मानपूर्ण होगा। मेरे लिए मानवीय संवेदना सर्वोपरि है।
— Yogeshwar Dutt (मोदी का परिवार) (@DuttYogi) August 31, 2016
Besik who left this world in the year 2013 after a car crash had been the world champion four times and won medals in Olympics twice. According to flowrestling.org, a Russian agency, Kudukhov was tested positive for doping which World Anti-Doping Agency conducted.
Consequently, many media reports started doing rounds suggesting that the bronze medal won by Yogeshwar Dutt in men’s 60kg freestyle category would be upgraded to silver and with this, he would come on the level of Sushil Kumar, a silver medalist from London Olympics.
The Indian freestyle wrestler dedicated his silver medal to Indians in a tweet in which he wrote, “I got to know this morning (Monday) that my bronze medal is getting upgraded to silver medal. I dedicate this medal to all my countrymen also.”
https://twitter.com/DuttYogi/status/770475714319646720
However, this upgradation of bronze to silver will be confirmed only when United World Wrestling gives it in writing to Wrestling Federation of India.
It’s definitely not easy to give away something which is very precious to you and Dutt’s decision is certainly commendable! In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that he won the gold medal by doing this!
What do you say? Share your opinion in the comments section below.