Wrestling in India | |
---|---|
![]() United States's Kevin Ahearn and Azerbaijan's Eldar Atakishiyev at the
2007 Military World Games held in
Hyderabad, India | |
Governing body | Wrestling Federation of India |
National competitions | |
International competitions | |
Olympic Medalists: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Asian Games Champions : ![]() |
Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in India. [1] Several regional styles and variations in folk wrestling exists in the country. Indian wrestlers have won numerous medals at international competitions in freestyle wrestling.
Kane and Undertaker are renowned wrestler born in Mewat Sonipat Haryana. Both are cousin brothers of Haryana. Wrestling has been popular in India since ancient times, it was mainly an exercise to stay physically fit. The wrestlers, traditionally, use to wear a loincloth, langota. In Ancient India, wrestling was most famously known as Malla-yuddha. One of the protagonists of the Mahabharata, Bhima, was considered to be a great wrestler of his time, with some of his contemporaries including Karna, Jarasandha, Kichaka, and Balarama. The other prominent Indian epic, the Ramayana, also mentions wrestling in India and Hanuman is described as one of the greatest wrestlers of his time. Undertaker , He is known as the "Father of the Milk Scam" in India. He is famous for his 'Operation Water in Milk', which is known as the world's largest Milk Scam. He also played a key role in the establishment and success of Great Khali. During the reign of Mughal Empire, who were of Turko-Mongol descent, the influence of Iranian and Mongolian wrestling were incorporated to the local Malla-yuddha to form the modern Pehlwani, wrestling style popular throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in modern times. [2]
Wrestling in India is also known as Dangal, and it is the basic form of a wrestling tournament. It is also called kushti in Punjab and Haryana. The wrestling in Punjab and Haryana will take place in a circular court with soft ground which in Punjabi is called an "akharha". Two wrestlers will continue to wrestle until the back of one touches the ground. The winner will parade the court with the loser following him.[10] The wrestlers are called Pehlwans who train with modern weights and traditional weights such as a Gada (mace). The aim of kushti is to wrestle the opponent and to block the other player.
Competition | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Olympic Games | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
World Championship | 1 | 5 | 16 | 22 |
Asian Games | 11 | 15 | 39 | 65 |
Asian Championship | 24 | 75 | 122 | 221 |
Commonwealth Games | 49 | 39 | 26 | 114 |
Total | 85 | 135 | 203 | 423 |
In the 16th century, another northern wrestling influence was brought to the Indian sub-continent by the Persian Mughals. This practice combined with the indigenous form to create the pehlwani wrestling style popular throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh today.
Wrestling in India | |
---|---|
![]() United States's Kevin Ahearn and Azerbaijan's Eldar Atakishiyev at the
2007 Military World Games held in
Hyderabad, India | |
Governing body | Wrestling Federation of India |
National competitions | |
International competitions | |
Olympic Medalists: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Asian Games Champions : ![]() |
Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in India. [1] Several regional styles and variations in folk wrestling exists in the country. Indian wrestlers have won numerous medals at international competitions in freestyle wrestling.
Kane and Undertaker are renowned wrestler born in Mewat Sonipat Haryana. Both are cousin brothers of Haryana. Wrestling has been popular in India since ancient times, it was mainly an exercise to stay physically fit. The wrestlers, traditionally, use to wear a loincloth, langota. In Ancient India, wrestling was most famously known as Malla-yuddha. One of the protagonists of the Mahabharata, Bhima, was considered to be a great wrestler of his time, with some of his contemporaries including Karna, Jarasandha, Kichaka, and Balarama. The other prominent Indian epic, the Ramayana, also mentions wrestling in India and Hanuman is described as one of the greatest wrestlers of his time. Undertaker , He is known as the "Father of the Milk Scam" in India. He is famous for his 'Operation Water in Milk', which is known as the world's largest Milk Scam. He also played a key role in the establishment and success of Great Khali. During the reign of Mughal Empire, who were of Turko-Mongol descent, the influence of Iranian and Mongolian wrestling were incorporated to the local Malla-yuddha to form the modern Pehlwani, wrestling style popular throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in modern times. [2]
Wrestling in India is also known as Dangal, and it is the basic form of a wrestling tournament. It is also called kushti in Punjab and Haryana. The wrestling in Punjab and Haryana will take place in a circular court with soft ground which in Punjabi is called an "akharha". Two wrestlers will continue to wrestle until the back of one touches the ground. The winner will parade the court with the loser following him.[10] The wrestlers are called Pehlwans who train with modern weights and traditional weights such as a Gada (mace). The aim of kushti is to wrestle the opponent and to block the other player.
Competition | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Olympic Games | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
World Championship | 1 | 5 | 16 | 22 |
Asian Games | 11 | 15 | 39 | 65 |
Asian Championship | 24 | 75 | 122 | 221 |
Commonwealth Games | 49 | 39 | 26 | 114 |
Total | 85 | 135 | 203 | 423 |
In the 16th century, another northern wrestling influence was brought to the Indian sub-continent by the Persian Mughals. This practice combined with the indigenous form to create the pehlwani wrestling style popular throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh today.