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The Sushil Kumar timeline: From Olympic double to murder case involvement – tracing former wrestling world champion's rise and fall
Former wrestling world champion Sushil Kumar suffered a massive setback on Wednesday as the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted to him as he faces trial in the 2021 murder of wrestler Sagar Dhankhar in Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and P K Mishra gave Kumar a week to surrender, after Kumar had been granted bail earlier this year after spending three-and-a-half years in jail.
Hailing from Baprola, Delhi, the 42-year-old Kumar's story is replete of dizzying highs and treacherous nadirs that has tarnished his sporting legacy. Here is a look at the timeline of Sushil Kumar's journey from the akharas of the Chhatrasal Stadium to his Olympic glory and a murder case that has blemished his career achievements.
1997: A 14-year-old Sushil Kumar joins the Chhatrasal Stadium's akhara, which was started in 1988 by his former coach, now father-in-law, Satpal Singh.
2003: Sushil participated in the Asian Wrestling Championship held in New Delhi, clinching the bronze medal in 60kg freestyle category. In the same year he won a gold medal in the freestyle category at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in London.
2005: Kumar featured in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Cape Town and won the gold medal in 66kg freestyle category and bronze in the 66kg Greco-Roman category.
2006: Won gold in the 2007 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in London in 66kg freestyle category. Received the Arjuna Award.
2008:Wins his first Olympic medal, bagging bronze in the 66kg freestyle category.
2010: At the World Wrestling Championships held in Moscow, Kumar created history by becoming the first Indian to win a world wrestling title. Won the gold medal in the 66kg freestyle category in the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi.
2012: At the London Olympics, Sushil Kumar created history, winning the silver medal in the 66kg freestyle category. He became the first man to win multiple individual Olympic medals for independent India.
2014: Won the gold medal in the 74 kg freestyle category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
2018: Wins third consecutive Commonwealth gold in Gold Coast, Australia.
May 4, 2021: Susbil Kumar and several others were accused of fatally assaulting Dhankar during a property dispute. The attack, which also left two of Dhankar's friends injured, caused Dhankar to suffer cerebral damage from a blunt object, according to the postmortem report.
May 23, 2021: Following the incident, a massive manhunt for the Olympian was launched. He managed to evade arrest for 18 days by traveling through Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. Delhi Police eventually captured him in the Mundka area of the city. Kumar was apprehended while traveling on a borrowed scooter to collect cash from a national-level athlete.
October 2022: A Delhi trial court formally charged Kumar and 17 others with several crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder, rioting, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and robbery. They were also charged with offenses under the Arms Act.
March 2025: Following three-and-a-half years in jail, Kumar granted by Delhi High Court.
July 2025: Resumes duty in Northern Railway.
August 2025: Supreme Court bench sets aside bail granted by Delhi HC, gives Kumar one week to surrender.
