Wrestling in Chandigarh

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (WFI, UWW, SAI).

Overview

Governing body: WFI
Origin: Ancient India
Olympic discipline: Yes
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Wrestling is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The WFI oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Wrestling is a recognised Olympic discipline, which shapes the entire high-performance pipeline in India. Athletes who break into the senior national camp become eligible for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which funds international training stints, foreign coaches, sports science support, equipment and travel for ranking events. Below the senior tier, the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games act as the country's largest scouting net, feeding talent into the Khelo India Talent Development scheme where annual stipends, boarding and dedicated coaching are provided at SAI National Centres of Excellence and accredited academies. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports tracks every selected athlete's progress against published benchmarks, and underperformance can mean a drop from the scheme — the pathway is rigorous by design.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The WFI runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Wrestling typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Wrestling originated in Ancient India, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Wrestling, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the WFI, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Akharas of Haryana and Punjab feed India's Olympic medal hopes.

History

How wrestling evolved globally and took root in India.

Wrestling traces its modern origins to Ancient India. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and WFI is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, wrestling grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under WFI, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Wrestling being on the Olympic programme reshaped its Indian pathway: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) selection, Khelo India Talent Development stipends and international training stints became the norm for the country's leading athletes.

Indian Achievements

Verified Olympic, World, Asian and Commonwealth milestones for India in wrestling.

K. D. Jadhav — Olympic Bronze, Helsinki 1952 (India's first individual Olympic medal).
Sushil Kumar — Olympic Bronze Beijing 2008, Silver London 2012 (only Indian with two individual Olympic medals until 2024).
Yogeshwar Dutt — Olympic Bronze London 2012.
Sakshi Malik — Olympic Bronze Rio 2016 (first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal).
Bajrang Punia — Olympic Bronze Tokyo 2020; World silver 2018.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya — Olympic Silver Tokyo 2020; World bronze 2019.
Aman Sehrawat — Olympic Bronze Paris 2024 (youngest Indian Olympic medallist).

Famous Indian Players

Landmark wrestling names from India, past and present.

Sushil Kumar
Two-time Olympic medallist; World Champion 2010.
Bajrang Punia
Olympic bronze 2020; Asian Games gold; Padma Shri.
Sakshi Malik
Rio 2016 Olympic bronze — first Indian woman wrestler medallist.
Vinesh Phogat
First Indian woman wrestler to win Asian Games gold (2018, 2022).
Ravi Kumar Dahiya
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver.
Aman Sehrawat
Paris 2024 Olympic bronze at 57kg freestyle.
Antim Panghal
U-20 World Champion 2022, 2023; senior Asian Championship gold.

Notable Coaches

Head coaches and mentors behind India's leading wrestling results.

Mahavir Singh Phogat
Coached Phogat sisters (Geeta, Babita, Vinesh) to Commonwealth Games and Asian medals.
Satpal Singh
Coached Sushil Kumar; Chhatrasal Stadium chief; Dronacharya awardee.
Sushil Yadav
India women's national coach; multiple international campaigns.
Jagmander Singh
India men's freestyle head coach; Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 campaigns.

All coaches directory →

Scholarships & Funding

Central, state and private scholarships available for wrestling athletes in India.

SAI NCoE Wrestling (Sonepat, Lucknow, Aurangabad)
National Centre of Excellence scholarships with stipend and boarding.
Chhatrasal Stadium (Delhi)
Legendary wrestling akhara with stipend and boarding for talented wrestlers.
Haryana / Punjab sports scholarships
State-run wrestling scholarships including cash awards for medallists.
Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified wrestling talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect wrestling athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.

Explore all government schemes →

Indian Players

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Rules

Two wrestlers grapple on a circular mat, aiming to pin the opponent's shoulders to the ground or score more technical points through takedowns, reversals, and exposure. Olympic wrestling has two disciplines — freestyle (all-body holds allowed) and Greco-Roman (upper body only, no leg holds or trips). Bouts run two 3-minute periods.

Authoritative rulebook: WFI. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a wrestling squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in wrestling at a federation-recognised event.

Wrestling mat (circular competition area)
Wrestling singlet
Wrestling shoes (soft-soled, ankle support)
Ear guards

Governing body

National federation

WFI

WFI is the recognised national body for Wrestling in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for wrestling. State associations under WFI run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Ancient India
Olympic: Yes
Category: Combat

All federations →

Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the wrestling calendar in India.

Senior National Wrestling Championship
WFI-sanctioned senior national — men and women in Olympic weight categories.
U-15 / U-17 / U-20 / U-23 National Championships
Age-group nationals feeding the international U-15 to U-23 pathway.
Federation Cup Wrestling
Selection trial for major international events.
Bharat Kesari Kushti Dangal
Indian-style traditional wrestling championship.
Pro Wrestling League (PWL)
Franchise league in Olympic-style wrestling (intermittent editions).

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in wrestling.

Olympic Games (Wrestling)
Men's freestyle, women's wrestling, and Greco-Roman weight categories.
UWW World Wrestling Championships
Annual senior world championship (except Olympic years).
Asian Games / Asian Championships
Continental championships — India regularly wins 6-8 medals.
Commonwealth Games (Wrestling)
India tops the medal table more often than not.
Ranking Series events
UWW-sanctioned meets for Olympic and World seeding points.

Leagues

Franchise and professional leagues catalogued for wrestling. Full season data, champions and schedule filters are available in the sidebar.

Domestic · Since 2015
Pro Wrestling League
Franchise wrestling league featuring Indian and international Olympic-style wrestlers.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised wrestling athletes to know outside India.

Russia (Historic USSR & Russia)
Most-decorated nation in Olympic wrestling.
USA
Consistently top of the freestyle and women's medal tables at Worlds and Olympics.
Iran
Dominant in men's freestyle; multiple World and Olympic team titles.
Japan (Women)
Most-decorated women's wrestling nation in history.

Records

Where to find India's official wrestling record book.

Olympic medalsTracked
Individual and team Olympic medals for India in wrestling are logged on the official IOC and IOA archives.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in wrestling are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the WFI.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in wrestling are maintained by the WFI.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for wrestling and mirrored by WFI.
National record holdersFederation register
WFI publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in wrestling — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

TOPS-supported international wrestler
PWL / commercial pro wrestler
WFI / UWW-certified coach and referee
Sports quota government jobs — Railways, Haryana Police, Punjab Police, Indian Army
Sports science / physio at SAI NCoE wrestling centres
Akhara operator and grassroots talent scout

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

25 listed

Inspire Institute of SportElite
Vijayanagar, Karnataka · Since 2018
JSW-backed high-performance centre training Olympic medal hopefuls.
Chhotu Ram AkharaNational
Rohtak, Haryana · Since 1980
Traditional kushti akhara that feeds the national wrestling pipeline.
Khelo India State Centre, JalandharState
Jalandhar, Punjab · Since 2020
Khelo India-accredited centre with full residential facilities.
Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, PatialaElite
Patiala, Punjab · Since 1961
Asia's largest sports institute and SAI's flagship coach-education and training campus.
SAI Western Centre, GandhinagarNational
Gandhinagar, Gujarat · Since 1986
Western India's residential SAI centre with full sports-science support.
Olympic Gold Quest HPCElite
Mumbai, Maharashtra · Since 2001
Foundation backing India's leading Olympic medal contenders with full athlete support.
Motilal Nehru School of SportsNational
Sonipat, Haryana · Since 1973
Haryana's residential sports school — a feeder for the state's medal factory.
Guru Hanuman AkharaNational
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 1925
India's most decorated wrestling akhara — alumni include Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt.
Chhatrasal Stadium Wrestling AkharaElite
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 1982
Run by Mahabali Satpal — produced Olympic medallists Sushil and Yogeshwar.
Phogat Wrestling AcademyNational
Balali, Haryana · Since 2014
Family-run Phogat sisters' akhara in rural Haryana.
Tau Devi Lal Sports ComplexState
Panchkula, Haryana · Since 2003
Haryana's largest integrated training complex with multi-sport residential wing.
Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports ComplexState
Pune, Maharashtra · Since 1994
Maharashtra's premier multi-sport campus at Balewadi, Pune.

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for wrestling athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about wrestling in India.

Who governs wrestling in India?▾

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), affiliated to United World Wrestling (UWW) and the Asian Wrestling Federation.

How many Olympic medals has India won in wrestling?▾

8 individual Olympic medals as of 2024 — the most for any Indian discipline after shooting and hockey (team).

What are the main wrestling weight categories?▾

Olympic wrestling has 6 weight categories each in men's freestyle, women's wrestling and Greco-Roman (18 total).

Which state produces the most Indian wrestlers?▾

Haryana — home to the majority of India's Olympic wrestling medallists, followed by Punjab, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Wrestling in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Wrestling in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Wrestling