LONDON, Aug 12 � Wrestler Sushil Kumar today created history by becoming the first Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals but the coveted gold medal eluded him as he lost the men�s freestyle 66 kg category final to his Japanese opponent rather tamely at the ExCel Arena here today, reports PTI.
The 29-year-old Sushil found the Japanese Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, a tough opponent as he carved out a 3-1 victory to shatter his hopes of winning a gold medal.
With the addition of Sushil�s silver medal, India completed their engagements in the 30th edition of the Olympics with a record haul of six medals � two silver and four bronze � but the gold medal could not be won by any one.
In Beijing, India had won one gold and two bronze medals.
Sushil, who was cheered by the flag-waving Indian spectators, was down with dehydration when he took the mat for the final and that had a bearing on his performance.
�� had a stomach problem just after the semi-final, because of the dehydration. I lost weight and was feeling a little weak. But we have got a silver medal and we will try for gold medal in the next Olympics,� Sushil said after the medal ceremony.
�I had said about 15 days ago that we will do well. It was a question of what will be the colour of medals. I am happy that Yogeshwar won a bronze and our performance will keep improving,� he said.
In the final, Sushil found the going tough against the japanese who just did not allow the Indian to grip him at all.
Sushil tried desperately to get a breakthroug but without much luck as the Japanese wrestled intelligently. The Japanse won the first round 1-0 and took the second round 3-1 during which he picked up Sushil on his shoulder and brought him down, effectively ending the Indian�s chance.
�It was bronze in Beijing, and now it�s a silver. So were are gradually going up and may be in the next Olympics, I will be able to win the gold medal,� Sushil said.
