Happy to welcome you all sports readers. Today, we are bringing the game which played to entertain the royal families. Indian wrestling had raised the professional sport of India International. Along with you, we are giving more details about Indian wrestling
Professional wrestling came to the world in 1830, with wrestlers traveling around Europe to showcase their talent. Especially, the Greco-Roman style came in by French consequence on the sport.
Freestyle wrestling was included in the Olympic program for the St. Louis Games 1904 and London 1908 Games.
Wrestling started up as a manner for men to keep fit and strong men were treated with respect. In particular, Combining natural power with skill and technique to create an interesting event as a sport, has always grown in popularity in India.
Origin Indian wrestling
Wrestling in India had its origin way back to the fifth century BCE. Moreover in the common context, the martial art form is said to have occurred, in a fundamental aspect, since 7000 BCE.
The early form of wrestling known as ‘Malla-yuddha’ (hand-to-hand combat) and various sources can be found in old epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata considered the strongest man in the epic and an accomplished wrestler.
Wrestling is widely disciplined in most parts of north India. Along with kings and princes often governing wrestling competitions for entertainment.
Furthermore, wrestling called in other names like dangal, pehlwani, and kushti in north India. Also, the stage for wrestling was mud patches, popularly known as akharas, as opposed to soft mats popularized in the European variant.
Baksh in Indian wrestling
India’s first wrestling superstar Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, also known as Gama Pehlwan or the Great Gama.
Introduced to the wrestling field by his uncle Ida. Without a doubt Gama Pehlwan, a legend declared the winner of a strongman competition at the age of 10. On the other hand, he started his training as a wrestler.
The small Gama Pehlwan rose to success in 1895. when he engaged in a battle with the famous Raheem Baksh Sultaniwala. Also, he towered over him by more than afoot. The bout eventually declared a draw.
Raheem Sultaniwala the Indian wrestling champion and Gama’s accomplishment solidified him as the next big thing in Indian wrestling.
Gama Pehlwan’s wonderful time came in 1910. undoubtedly, recognized as the best wrestler in India by that time. Also traveled to London for the John Bull world championship but was denied entry due to his small stature.
Gama Pehlwan threw down an open challenge on the spot. Whereas Benjamin Roller, a famous American wrestler at the time, took up. Moreover, the Indian responded by pinning him down twice.
The next day, in a match against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko, Gama Pehlwan put up with his opponent down. Following Zbyszko staying in that defensive position to contradict the Indian’s strength. Eventually, the bout declared a draw after a marathon of two hours and 35 minutes.
Gama Pehlwan beat many wrestlers on tour and when he returned to India, he beat the famed Raheem Sultaniwala and was crowned the champion of India.
After partition in 1947, Gama Pehlwan lived in Lahore and died in 1960 due to illness. In his almost five-decade career being successful without losing the bout.
Kd Jadhav in Indian wrestling
A mud practice wrestler who took the game on the mat at the London Olympics in 1948 couldn’t find success. Moreover, with huge training and gathering funds for the trip come to win an Olympic bronze medal in the bantamweight category.
Following, KD Jadhav many Indians come up to learn wrestling. Indians won medals in wrestling in the Asian games in 1954. In addition, Maruti Mane, Ganpat Andalkar, and Malwa Singh won gold medals in different categories in the 1962 Asian games.
- Udey Chand bronze medal winner in the world championship in 1961.
- Bishambar Singh silver medal winner in the world championship in 1967.
In the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland Indian wrestlers put up a tremendous show winning five gold, three silver, and a bronze across different categories.
Kartar Singh, Rajendar Singh, and Satpal Singh won medals in the Asian and Commonwealth games in 1986.
After the retirement of experienced players, Indian wrestling was unable to move forward. It took two decades to make an impression in the international field.
Sushi Kumar made an end to the 56-year Olympic drought by winning a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Indian Women’s In wrestling
Alka Tomar in 2006 became the first Indian female wrestler to win a bronze medal in the world championship in the 59kg category.
Importantly the fighting spirit from Tomar motivated other women to wrestle. Without a doubt, Indian women headed to Commonwealth games.
Geeta phogat becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal in CWG took place in Delhi. Also, her sister Babita phogat won a silver medal in the same tournament. The next ten years were dominated by these three in the world championship.
In 2021 Anshu Malik became the first Indian woman to win the silver medal in the world championship
Olympic in Indian wrestling
- 2012 London yogeshwar Dutt bronze medal
- 2016 Rio shakshi Malik bronze medal
- 2020 Tokyo Ravi Kumar Dahiya silver medal
- 2020 Tokyo Bajrang punia bronze medal
Indians won one medal minimum in the last four years of the Olympics.
Everyone is happy with the success of Indian wrestling. Also participating in various competitions including Olympics which has popularised the game. The roots of Indian wrestling are very strong. Importantly it helps the youngsters to keep disciplines and make fit evolve the Indian wrestling all around the country.