While most of the 500-plus districts in India struggle to produce one worthy sportsman in a lifetime, Najafgarh, a bustling town on the outskirts of Delhi, has the distinction of producing two world-class sportsmen: cricketer Virender Sehwag and wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won a bronze, in the 66kg freestyle category, at the Beijing Olympics.
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Kumar's parents recount the rise of their wrestler son.
If you had gone to Baprola village looking for wrestler Sushil Kumar's home a month ago, it wouldn't have been difficult to find it.
Sushil grapples to glory
'It's on the main road, it is the tallest building, and there is a big poster of him receiving the Arjuna award from [former] President Abdul Kalam,' inform the villagers.
But now, since he became India's fourth-ever individual Olympics bronze medallist, there will be a slight change in the directions.
'There will be a big poster of him receiving the bronze medal in the Olympics,' the villages will say.
Photograph: Getty Images | Text: Krishnakumar P
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