New Delhi:
Yogeshwar Dutt has comeback from a point of no return to emerge as a leading medal prospect for India in the Commonwealth Games, and the freestyle grappler also admitted he was eyeing nothing less than a gold in his maiden outing in the mega-event.
Back to full fitness after recovering from a career-threatening knee injury, Yogeshwar said his present focus is to win back-to-back golds in the Delhi Games starting Sunday and November's Asian Games in Guangzhou, but his main target remains 2012 London Olympics.
Yogeshwar's career was at stake after suffering an injury during national trials last year. But with support from the Mittal Trust, he spent six months in Durban and underwent two operations there to make a remarkable comeback to the sport.
"The injury was really a horrifying experience. I never thought I will play wrestling again, but God had other plans.
My training is going on very well. I have been practising five-six hours daily for the Commonwealth Games," said the 28-year-old Haryana grappler.
"The Commonwealth Games is very important for me because the Asian Games is just after that. And I am confident of winning gold in both the events but my main aim is London Olympics.
"I want to make up for my bronze medal in the last Asian Games with a gold this time," said Yogeshwar, who missed a medal at Beijing Olympics by a whisker after losing the quarterfinals.
Yogeshwar had a tame outing in his comeback event, recently-concluded World Championships in Moscow, where country-mate Sushil Kumar created history by winning gold in the 66kg category.
He lost out in the first round of World Championships on points in a tight match but 2008 Asian champion exuded confidence of returning back to his elements in the forthcoming Delhi Games.
"World Championships was my first big tournament after Beijing Olympics. It was also my first tournament in 60kg after recovering from the injury. During the last one year, I gained a lot of weight and so I faced some weight problems in Moscow.
"But I have fully recovered now and desperately looking forward to the Commonwealth Games. Over the years, competition has become tougher in Commonwealth Games but I am confident about my performance," Yogeshwar said.
Yogeshwar also had words of appreciation for world champion and his longtime friend Sushil Kumar, saying the Beijing Olympic bronze medalist's exploits has given the century-old sport a new life in the country.
"I have been friends with Sushil for the last 14-15 years, we started playing wrestling together. He gave a new identity to Indian wrestling and it has now become a craze.
"I get inspiration from Sushil's achievement. I feel if Sushil can, why can't I?"
Yogeshwar also came in support of his dope-tainted colleagues, saying they took the banned substance unintentionally.
Indian wrestling was hit by doping scandals recently after six wrestlers -- Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg), Arjuna Awardee Rajeev Tomar (120kg) and woman Gursharanpreet Kaur (72kg), who were to participate in the Games, and Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh tested positive for a banned substance methylhexanemaine.
"It is very sad but I am certain they have not done it intentionally," Yogeshwar said.
"We stay together. I share rooms with Mausam, Yoginder and Sumit and they can't do this. It is a sorry affair as they even don't know how it was found in their body.
"Tomar is a very experienced wrestler. He has been to Olympics and World Championships and knows very well the consequence of such an offence," he added.