Wrestling, also known as Kushti or Pehlwani in India, is a popular game that has produced several world-class competitors. Wrestling is an old sport that has been performed in various ways for ages throughout the world. Wrestling was practised and even organised by the historical Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians thousands of years ago.
Mentioned below is the list of famous Indian wrestlers:
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Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar is perhaps the best Indian wrestler of the contemporary age and the most divisive. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he earned India’s first Olympic medal since 1952. Sushil Kumar is well-known for his skilled but aggressive wrestling abilities. He rag-dolled his competitors even at the top levels.
Kumar was the very first Indian to be awarded a gold medal at the World Championships in the year 2010. Sushil Kumar missed the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics after catching a stomach virus just before the finals. He could not compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics and was accused of destroying Narsingh Yadav’s career by tying him up in a doping scandal involving illicit supplements.
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Geeta Phogat
Geeta Phogat is a well-known female fighter in India who helped to establish women’s wrestling in the nation. Phogat and her sister Babita were taught by their father, veteran fighter Mahavir Singh Phogat, who recognised enormous promise in the pair. Girls were not allowed to fight in most regions of the nation at the time.
With the aid and encouragement of her family, Geeta surmounted the societal restrictions to become one of India’s best female wrestlers. Aamir Khan’s Dangal was even based on the Phogat household. Geeta Phogat won India’s maiden gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in 2010.
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Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia is a Haryana-born Indian wrestler known for his agility and speed. Injuries have hampered Punia’s journey, but he has always contrived to come back tougher. Bajrang Punia is the first Indian wrestler to have won four medals in the World Championships (One silver, three bronze).
He is also a two times Commonwealth gold medallist and an Asian Games gold medalist. Punia’s most notable accomplishment is his bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite a leg injury, Punia beat Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0. Punia, 28, intends to compete in the 2024 Games in Paris.
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Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt is yet another well-known wrestler from India. Dutt began preparing at a young age and ended up winning medals in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympics despite tremendous odds. Dutt has motivated several Indian wrestlers, including Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Bajrang Punia. In 2019, Dutt entered politics by joining the populist Bharatiya Janata Party.
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Deepak Punia
Deepak Punia is another talented Indian youth wrestler. He earned silver medals in the 2019 World Wrestling Championships held at Nur-Sultan and the 2022 Commonwealth Tournament in Birmingham. Punia is an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer participating in the 86-kilogram weight category.
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Ravi Kumar Dahiya
Ravi Kumar Dahiya is a Haryana-born Indian wrestler who gained recognition after earning a second prize at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Dahiya was down by 9 points in the semifinals before making a spectacular comeback and pinning his opponent in the waning minutes of the match to win by fall. Dahiya lost the championship on points, and his name will go down in history. Dahiya has a brilliant career ahead of him, having won gold at both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
