While Sushil, who etched his name in the record books after becoming the first Indian athlete to win back-to-back medals at the Olympics, has not participated in the event since his bronze medal at the Beijing Games, his friend and London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt has just once tried his skills.
"No, they won't be participating in the national championship," an official from the Wrestling Federation of India told PTI when asked whether the two poster boys of the sport will contest in the nationals.
"Sushil has not participated in the championship since winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Games. And I don't think it is even right to expect him to be present for the Nationals given the amount of hard work he put in for the London Olympics," he added.
Sushil won a silver at the London Games earlier this year. MORE