Sushil Kumar: I had set my goal years back when I was just a boy

Sushil Kumar, freestyle wrestler in the 66-kg category, first won a bronze medal for India at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - and then, a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Speaking with Arun Sharma , Kumar discussed his motivations, his plans for the future - and his passion for parathas:
You have now won two Olympic medals. What would you credit for your success?
My team has been my backbone throughout.My guruji, Satpal Singh, my family and my wife have also been very supportive and encouraging. In addition, the state of Haryana has supported me constantly. In fact, thanks to the kind of assistance it gives to sportspersons, a small state like Haryana has taken a big lead over other larger states in the arena of sports. Haryana's success in this field is mainly due to its systematic planning and laying stress on sports in the villages of the state.
You've been richly awarded for your win - do you plan to contribute to wrestling as a sport?
I will surely try and contribute as much as I can. Of course, this need not just be financially. The government has been kind enough to bestow a large amount upon me. I hope to utilize this to form a training centre for all young men and women who are passionate about wrestling and eager to learn. The Haryana government has also offered me a piece of land to set up a wrestling academy in Sonepat. I appreciate such support greatly.
You are known as a highly disciplined athlete - but do you have any secret addictions?
I completely savour aloo parathas! But my training regimen doesn't permit me to eat those all the time. I am also accustomed to regular workout sessions, a minimum of once a day. That's something i cannot afford to miss. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family, lazing about when i am home and playing football and basketball - i am a big fan of Lionel Messi while Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni are amongst my favourite cricketers.
Speaking of workouts, did you feel your preparation for the London Games was sufficient?
Well, in the final round, i realised i didn't attack from the beginning. That's where i lost out on time. However, now it's the 2016 Rio Olympics for me - my goal is to give my 100% there and i will train even harder this time.
I need to work on my strategies and tactics constantly as every coming year, we confront new contenders. It's going to be challenging - but i'm up for this challenge. I had actually set my goal years back when i was just a boy. Every time i win a medal now, i see myself coming closer to achieving that state of fulfillment.
Finally, some critics feel boxer Vijender Singh per-haps got distracted by get-ting too involved in the world of glamour, modelling, etc. Is this something you avoid?
Vijender is a great athlete and he was the one who got India its first Olympic medal in boxing. Speaking for myself, it's not that i am against advertising - in fact, i too endorsed some brands. In the future too, if a good opportunity comes by, i will surely choose - wisely.