Wrestling, commonly known as Kushti or Pehlwani in India, is a popular sport in the country that has produced many world-class athletes. Wrestling is an ancient sport that has been practiced in various forms around the world for centuries. The ancient Greeks, Babylonians and Egyptians competed in wrestling and even held tournaments thousands of years ago.
Wrestling is also recorded in the Vedas and the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. It’s no surprise that wrestling is one of the most revered sports in India. Many Indian wrestlers have made the country proud with their international achievements. Wrestlers are becoming increasingly famous for their contributions to the nation and high social respect. Let’s take a look at the top 10 most famous Indian wrestlers.
Related: Top 10 famous Indian female wrestlers
1. Sushil Kumar
Source: The Indian Express
Sushil Kumar is arguably the greatest Indian wrestler of the modern era and also the most controversial. He won the first Olympic medal for India since 1952 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sushil Kumar is known for his highly technical yet fierce wrestling skills. Even at the highest level, he still beats his opponents. In 2010, Kumar became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Championships. Due to a stomach illness right before the final of the 2012 London Olympics, Sushil Kumar lost the coveted gold medal and had to accept the silver medal. He failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics and was embroiled in controversy for sabotaging Narsingh Yadav’s career by involving him in a doping scandal with tainted supplements.
2. Geeta Phogat
Source: HerZindagi
Geeta Phogat is one of India’s most famous female wrestlers and a pioneer in women’s wrestling in the country. Phogat and her sister Babita were trained by their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler, who saw the pair’s great potential. At that time, girls were banned from wrestling in most parts of the country. But with the guidance and support of her family, Geeta overcame social barriers to become one of the best female wrestlers in Indian history. A film was even made on Phogat family – Aamir Khan’s Dangal. Geeta Phogat won India’s first gold medal in wrestling at the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
3. Bajrang Punia
Source: Khel Now
Bajrang Punia is an Indian wrestler from Haryana who is famous for his stamina and agility. Although her career has been difficult due to injuries, Punia always tries to come back stronger. Bajrang Punia is the only Indian wrestler to win 4 medals (1 silver, 3 bronze) at the World Championships. He is also an Asian Games gold medalist and a two-time Commonwealth gold medalist. However, Punia’s greatest achievement is probably the 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medal. Punia defeated Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 despite a knee injury. At 28, Punia hopes to represent India again at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Related: Bajrang Punia Biography: Wife, Gold Medalist, Age, Medals, Brother, State, Diet, Profile and Other Details
4. Yogeshwar Dutt
Source: DNA India
Yogeshwar Dutt is another famous wrestler from the Indian state. Dutt started training at an early age and overcame many odds to win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Dutt is an inspiration to many Indian wrestlers and mentor to the likes of Bajrang Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya. Dutt joined the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.
5. KD Jadhav
Source: Print
KD Jadhav was Independent India’s first individual medalist at the Olympics. Jadhav is famous for his small stature and lightning speed. He won a bronze medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and later worked as a wrestling coach.
Related: Google Doodle: Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, Who is the First Indian Athlete to Win an Olympic Medal?
6. Deepak Punia
Source: The Indian Express
Deepak Punia is another promising young wrestler in India. He won silver medals at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships in Nur-Sultan and at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Punia is a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army and competes in the weight class 86 kg.
7. Phogat grapes
Source: Hindustan Times
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat is a member of the famous Phogat family. Vinesh is a native of Haryana and was mentored by her uncle, Mahavir Singh Phogat, as a child. Vinesh is one of India’s most talented female wrestlers and competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. An injury in the quarterfinals killed her hopes of winning a medal, but she made a stunning comeback two years later. then won gold medals at both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
8. Ravi Kumar Dahiya
Source: Haribhoomi
Ravi Kumar Dahiya is an Indian wrestler from Haryana who rose to fame when he won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Dahiya was trailing by 9 points in the semi-finals but made a miraculous recovery and pinned his opponent in the final moments of the match to win by fall. Dahiya lost the final on points and wrote his name in the annals of history. At just 23 years old, Dahiya has a bright future ahead of him and has won gold medals at the Asian Games as well as the Commonwealth Games.
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9. Sakshi Malik
Source: Bridge
Sakshi Malik is one of the most successful female wrestlers in India. She created history at the 2016 Olympics in Rio when she won the bronze medal and became India’s first Olympic medalist. Surprisingly, Malik replaced Indian women’s wrestling icon Geeta Phogat, who was injured at the time. Sakshi Malik is currently working for Indian Railways and recently won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
10. Gama Pehelwan
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, also known as The Great Gama, was a strongman and wrestler in British India. Born in Amritsar, Gama remained undefeated throughout his career and also won the Rustam-e-Hind (Indian Wrestling Championship). Due to the lack of quality competition in India, Gama began challenging international grapplers and defeated many famous wrestlers and judoka. Gama’s skills and training even inspired Bruce Lee.
|
Sir No |
wrestler |
Top achievements |
|
first |
Sushil Kumar |
Silver – London Olympics 2012 Gold – World Wrestling Championships Moscow 2010 |
|
2 |
Geeta Phogat |
Gold – New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games |
|
3 |
Bajrang Punia |
Bronze – Tokyo Olympics 2020 Silver – World Wrestling Championships Budapest 2018 |
|
4 |
Yogeshwar Dutt |
Bronze – London Olympics 2012 |
|
5 |
KD Jadhav |
Bronze – 1952 Helsinki Olympics |
|
6 |
Deepak Punia |
Silver – Nur-Sultan World Wrestling Championship 2019 |
|
5 |
Phogat Vinesh |
Gold – Asian Games Jakarta 2018 Gold – Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018 |
|
8 |
Ravi Kumar Dahiya |
Silver – Tokyo Olympics 2020 |
|
9 |
Sakshi Malik |
Gold – Rio Olympics 2016 Gold – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games |
|
ten |
Great Gama |
Rustam-e-Hind World Heavyweight Championship (1910) |
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