Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt's 2012 Olympics bronze medal was set to be upgraded to silver after Besik Kudukhov, who finished second in the London Games, was tested positive for the banned substance after a re-test. But Yogeshwar now wants Kudukhov's family to keep the medal.
Yogeshwar, who lost to Kudukhov in the pre-quarters in the London Olympics, reached the repechage round where he managed to emerge victorious in three different rounds to win the bronze in London.
This medal upgrade had initially come as positive news for Yogeshwar, who had a miserable Rio Olympics. Yogeshwar was one of the serious medals contenders for the nation, but he suffered an unfortunate exit on the opening round in the last day of the quadrennial event.
The Indian wrestler failed to defeat Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran, who emerged victorious with 3-0 scoreline. He returned home without a medal. Meanwhile, he received the good news of medal upgrade for the previous Games yesterday.
On Tuesday, Yogeshwar said that this silver medal upgrade would give his fans a reason to cheer after his Rio disappointment. But the wrestler took to Twitter on Wednesday, praising the Russian for being a quality wrestler and asked his family to keep the medal. Kudukhov died in 2013 in a car crash accident.
Both the wrestlers were good friends, and Yogeshwar said human feelings are paramount to him.
