A turbulent run-up to the Rio Games behind him, Narsingh Yadav will be eyeing a fairytale climax while old warhorse Yogeshwar Dutt would look to bid adieu with a second straight medal when India begin their Olympic wrestling campaign here on Monday. Having finished with two medals in wrestling at the london Games four years ago, the expectations are high and it would be up to the eight-member team to shoulder the responsibility.
However, the build-up to the Rio Games hasn't been very smooth for the Indian wrestling contingent with Narsingh fighting to clear his name in a doping scandal till the last moments.
It started with two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar demanding a selection trial in men's 74kg freestyle against Narsingh, who had bagged the quota place for India last year in this weight category.
Then, 27-year-old wrestler from Maharashtra tested positive for a banned substance in two dope tests conducted by the NADA.
After a week's ordeal, NADA gave a verdict in Narsingh's favour, exonerating him of all charges after being convinced by the 'sabotage' theory advanced by the wrestler's legal team.
It is now time that Narsingh bury the ghosts of the past and concentrate on job at hands. And the wrestler is more than keen to do exactly that when he takes the mat on August 19.