Rio 2016 | Wrestling: Sushil Kumar wishes childhood friend Yogeshwar Dutt luck to strike gold tonight

Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has extended his best wishes to ace wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, who will represent India in the men's 65kg freestyle bout on the final day of the Rio Olympics.

"We have been friends since childhood. All my best wishes are with Yogeshwar. I hope he wins the gold medal. The entire nation is standing behind him," Sushil told ANI.

Heaping praise on Indian sportswomen such as PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmakar, Sushil said that the female athletes have made the entire nation proud with their exceptional performances in the prestigious quadrennial event.

With unheralded wrestler Sakshi Malik (bronze) and ace shuttler PV Sindhu (silver) bringing an end to India's agonising wait for an Olympic medal in Rio, the entire nation has pinned high hopes on London Olympics-bronze medallist Yogeshwar to bring home another medal.

The 33-year-old grappler, who endured an injury-plagued season last year, faces a tough draw and will take on Mongolia's Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran in the qualifying round.