World Championships bronze medallist wrestler Ramesh Kumar on Friday said his next target is to win a medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2012 London Olympics.
Kumar, who won gold in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2005, is happy that he has got the fruits of hard work by becoming the first Indian wrestler to win a medal in a World Championships after 42 years.
"I have been working hard for the past few years for the World Championships. My hard work is getting the results. My next target is to win a medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well as in the 2012 London Olympics," he said.
"The most important thing after winning this bronze is that it has inspired me to keep on doing better for the country," Kumar said.
Asked why in so many years India has won just a bronze in the Beijing Olympics (by Sushil Kumar Singh) before his feat in the World Championships, Kumar said, "It's because of the facilities. If we get the facilities and sponsors the cricketers are getting, the wrestlers can make ripples in the Olympics and World Championships."
Kumar defeated Alexandr Burca of Moldova in 74 kg freestyle category to clinch a medal at World Wrestling Championship, in Herning, Denmark.
Vishambhar Singh was the last Indian wrestler who bagged a freestyle silver medal in 1967 World Championship.
Kumar's coach and Olympian Jagminder said the road ahead for Ramesh is clear that he should now think of winning a medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
"The road is clear now for Ramesh. He should now aim for a medal in London Olympics," he said.
