Top-notch Amateur Wrestlers of India

K.D. Jadhav

Photo Credit - scroll.in / Wikipedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Back in history, it was 1952 in Helsinki Olympics when an Indian defeated reigning champion and became independent India’s first athlete to win an Olympic medal. He was none other than Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, the legendary wrestler who started practising at an early age of 5 with his father, Dadasaheb. Later Baburao Balawde and Belapuri Guruji mentored him. He was nicknamed as "Pocket Dynamo". He was posthumously honoured with Arjuna Award in the year 2001. In the 1948 Summer Olympics, Rees Gardner polished his talents well. He gave a stunning eye fight to Billy Jernigan of USA and successfully defeated him. But he lost the tournament from Mansour Raisi of Iran. Although he didn’t give up, and with hard training, he re-gained his victory.

Achievement:

• Won a bronze medal in the Olympic Games, Helsinki in 1952

Geeta Phogat

Photo Credit - Facebook.com / WrestlerGeetaPhogatSaroha

Born on 15 December 1988, Geeta Phogat is a freestyle wrestler who was the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games. She is India’s first-ever gold medal winner in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games. Phogat was born in Haryana and trained by her own father Mahavir Singh Phogat, who was a former wrestler and a Dronacharya Award recipient. He has also coached her sister Babita Kumari and cousin Vinesh Phogat who all have aced in the sport. Her inspirational story of learning and practising in the fields to the wrestling ring has led to the creation of a biographical movie based on their real lives. The Dangal girl is a well-celebrated youth icon too.

Achievements:

• Won bronze in 55kg and 58kg at the Asian Championships, Gumi and Doha in 2012 and 2015, respectively
• Won a bronze medal in 55kg at the World Championships, Strathcona Country in 2012
• Won a gold medal in 55kg category at the Commonwealth Games, Delhi in 2010  
• Won a gold medal in 55kg at the FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, Astana in 2012

Yogeshwar Dutt

Photo Credit - Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (GODL-India)

From the treasures of Haryana, another wrestling gem who outshines himself in world wrestling is none other than Yogeshwar Dutt. He is one of the leading Indian freestyle wrestlers who was born on 2 November 1982 in Sonipat, Haryana. He participated in the International School Cadet games in Poland and proved his worth and won gold too. Being just eight years old kid, he started practising wrestling. The timid wrestler has been honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2012 and Padma Shri in the following year 2013 by the Government of India.

Achievements:

• Won a bronze medal in 60kg freestyle at the Olympic Games, London in 2012
• Won a gold medal in 60 and 65 kg freestyle at the Commonwealth Games, Delhi and Glasgow in 2010 and 2014, respectively
• Won a gold medal in 60kg freestyle at the Asian Championships, Jeju City and Gumi in 2008 and 2012, respectively
• Won bronze and gold medal in 60 and 65 kg freestyle at the Asian Games, Doha and Incheon in 2006 and 2014, respectively

Sushil Kumar

Photo Credit - Ten Sports / Wikipedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

Sushil Kumar is one of the famous and great Indian freestyle wrestlers. He was born on 26 May 1983 in a Jat family in Najafgarh, Delhi. The phenomenal wrestler has all the wrestling in his blood which he inherited from his father Diwan Singh, who was himself a wrestler. At a very young age of 14, Kumar started his training in an Akhada in Chhatrasal Stadium. The unbeatable Sushil has proven his potential early in the year 1998 at the World Cadet Games, where he won the gold medal and laid the foundation of his successful career. This famous wrestler had hailed his presence when he became the Haryana state champion in only 18 years. He made an amazing history when he became the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal in FILA 2010. Sushil Kumar was honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2005 And Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009 by the Government of India.

Achievements:

• Won a bronze medal in 66kg freestyle category at the Olympic Games, Beijing in 2008
• Won a gold medal in 66kg freestyle at the World Championships, Moscow in 2010
• Won a silver medal in 66kg freestyle at the Olympic Games, London in 2012
• Won a gold medal in Commonwealth Championship of 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2017
• Won gold medals in Commonwealth Games of 2010, 2014 and 2018

Sakshi Malik

Photo Credit - Facebook.com / wrestlersakshi

"To those who told me I am a girl and couldn’t wrestle, I want to say please show some trust, girls can do anything." This was Indian female wrestler Sakshi Malik’s headstrong mentality for the Olympics. No doubt her bravery, courage and phenomenal skills have made her one of the best Indian wrestlers. Sakshi Malik is one of the top Indian wrestlers from Haryana who has made whole India proud by being the first-ever Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics and fourth female Olympic medalist from the nation. She was born on 3 September 1992 in Rohtak, Haryana. At an early age of 12, she started her training at an Akhara in Chhotu Ram Stadium. This great Haryanvi wrestler has made everybody proud by winning the silver medal at 2014 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at 2015 Asian Wrestling Championships. She has won a bronze medal in 58 kg category at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Her inspiration to grow on wrestling comes from her grandfather, Badhlu Ram, who was also a wrestler. Wrestling was always considered as "not meant for girls", but Malik has broken all the stereotypes and now holds a prominent position in Indian wrestling.

Achievements:

• Won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Championships in 63 Kg category in 2013
• Won a silver medal in Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 58 Kg freestyle wrestling category in 2014
• Won a bronze medal in 58 Kg freestyle wrestling category at Rio Olympics of 2016
• Won a silver medal in 60 kg category event at the Asian Wrestling Championships and a gold medal in 62 kg category at the Commonwealth Championship in 2017
• Won a bronze medal in 58 kg category at the Commonwealth Games in 2018
• Won a bronze medal in 62 kg category at the Asian Wrestling Championships in 2018 and 2019