Who is Sushil Kumar Solanki?
Sushil Kumar Solanki (1983- ) is an Indian wrestler of bronze medal fame from the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The multi-medalist competes in the Men’s Freestyle event and has been awarded a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award for the several gold medals, 3 bronze and one silver medal in his event. He is poised to bring home another medal in 2012 at the London Summer Olympics.
Where did he grow up?
Sushil was born on 26th May 1983 in the village of Baprola in Southwest Delhi. He was guided towards wrestling by an uncle who was a pehlwan (athlete of the Indian form of wrestling). He began training at the Chhatrasal Stadium wrestling school at age 14, guided over the years by many different coaches. Enduring much hardship and a lack of funds, sometimes even having to share his mattress with fellow teammates, Sushil won his first gold at the World Cadet Games.
After a series of successful years, funding for his sport was still a problem. With his family’s support both emotionally and monetarily, Solanki went on to win many accolades in his event. It is normal practice for a wrestler to have a masseur to ease muscle pain before bouts but even without one, Sushil completed 3 bouts in the span of 70 minutes and brought home a bronze medal from the Beijing Olypmics in 2008.
What are some of his achievements?
- Bronze medal at 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- First Indian to win a world wrestling title.
- Gold medal at 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
- Silver medal at 2012 London Olympics.
- Gold medal at 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Sushil Kumar Solanki’s Events
- Men’s freestyle wrestling
Can you find out the difference between freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman style wrestling?
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