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India has had a rough go of it at the Olympics in recent history, but one of their few shining athletic stars could soon find another global stage to help bring pride to the country.
Sushil Kumar, the freestyle wrestler who took home silver in 2012 and bronze in 2008, is on the radar of the world's biggest professional wrestling organisation, WWE, according to the Deccan Herald.
Kumar, 33, could very well be done with Olympic duty, so it makes sense for him to look for other opportunities. But after meeting with WWE agent Canyon Ceman, Kumar said he wasn’t ready to move to the squared circle and completely give up amateur wrestling.
“I had a very good meeting with the head of the WWE talent development and I am exploring a lot of options as I just want to continue wrestling,” Sushil told the Press Trust of India. “I would not say that I am leaving the amateur arena. I am just keen to explore other avenues as I really want to continue playing”.
For WWE, it makes sense from a marketing perspective. The company is trying hard to push its brand into the East, notably China's notoriously tough-to-penetrate market. There's precedent for an Indian star with former champion The Great Khali, a retired giant of a man who was very popular with the world's second biggest population.
Khali, no longer with WWE, was asked by India Today what he thought of a potential Kumar fit with the company. Khali was sceptical, mainly due to Kumar's age, but said he was rooting for another Indian star to follow the trail he blazed.
“It will be good if Sushil goes to WWE. It is my thought nothing personal about it but I think it will be late for Sushil to join WWE,” Khali said. “One has to join at an early age and the chances of success increase. WWE is very difficult so I still feel it is a bit late for Sushil to join WWE. I would personally like to see someone in WWE after me.”
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