Famous Indian Wrestler in Olympics: Heroes of the Arena

Wrestling and India have a long and storied history together. From the old scriptures to medieval times to today, wrestling is one of the most prominent and famous sports in India, churning out great athletes who perform well at the global stage.

But when it comes to wrestling competition, no other tournament in the world quite holds the same weight as the Olympics. It’s the ultimate goal of every wrestler to bite down on that Gold Olympic biscuit in front of the whole world. But getting even a Silver medal is a task only a few have achieved in the past. Indian wrestler in Olympics are rapidly rising with their continuous determination and unbeatable strength. 

Wrestling is a sport where two people force or pin down each other to the ground. Indian Olympians are winning medals and international popularity at every Olympic Games. They have largely dominated the  Commonwealth Games and the Asian Olympics. 

If you want to know the Indian Olympic wrestlers who are overpowering the field with their strength and passion to win. This blog is for you. Read our complete guide to learn about the top Indian wrestlers in the Olympics who are making India proud globally. 

Indian Wrestler in Olympics – 5 Most Popular Indian Olympians 

Here is the list of the best Indian Olympic wrestlers across the world. 

1. KD Jadhav  

When we talk about Indian wrestlers in the Olympics, we cannot forget the first Indian to win an Olympic medal. KD Jadhav, originally known as Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, comes from a small village of Goleshwar in Maharashtra. He became the first Indian Olympian to win a medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. 

KD’s journey to the Olympic podium was not easy; he worked really hard from losing a medal in his first Olympic debut at the London 1948 to winning a bronze medal at the Helsinki games. KD was determined to win the gold at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, but due to a sudden knee injury, his dream was broken. 

But he didn’t stop here. KD dabbled in police games and trained numerous cops. Later, he rose higher as a Maharashtra cop and retired as an Assistant Commissioner in 1983. He died in 1984 in a road accident. However, the Indira Gandhi arena was named after the KD Jadhav Stadium to honour him during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. 

Famous for – KD Jadhav won the first-ever medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics for India. 

2. Udey Chand 

Udey Chand is another prominent Indian wrestler in Olympics who was inspired by KD Jadhav’s journey. He became the first Indian Olympic wrestler to win a bronze medal in a world championship in the 67 kg category. Udey Chand is a retired Indian Olympian and wrestling coach who was awarded the first Arjuna award in 1961 by the Government of India. 

He participated in three Olympics: Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, and Mexico 1968 and achieved sixth rank in the Mexico Olympics. Additionally, Udey Chand participated in the Asian Games and won two silver medals in the 70kg freestyle and 70 Kg Greece Roman at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta.

During the Asia Games in Bangkok, he won a bronze medal in the 70kg freestyle, making the nation proud. Though he achieved several medals and recognition, he ended his career with a gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.  

Famous for– Udey Chand is the first Indian Olympic wrestler to win a bronze medal in a world championship in the 67 kg category

3. Alka Tomar 

Alka Tomar was the first Indian woman to lay the foundation for women’s wrestling. She is not only the first Indian wrestler in Olympics but also the first wrestler to win a gold medal. 

Alka won bronze in the 59kg division at the age of 20 and became the first Indian woman to win the world championship, where she competed against Tonya Verbeek of Canada. 

She created history at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, winning a gold medal and leaving everyone in shock. Alka Tomar was honoured with the Arjuna Award for her remarkable achievements in sports. She has won several gold medals at the National Games, marking her name as the strongest Olympic wrestler from India.  

Famous for- Alka Tomar is the first Indian woman who participated in women’s wrestling. She is also popular for winning a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. 

4. Sushil Kumar 

Sushil Kumar levelled up the name of India in the Olympics, winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He continued to dominate the game with his skills and dedication, winning a gold medal in the world championship in 2010.

Sushil has also won four silver medals in London. Before achieving glory, he lost to Cuba’s Yandro Quintana, who was the gold medalist. But through these ups and downs, he became the strongest Indian wrestler in Olympic history. 

He is the only Indian Olympic wrestler who is a three-time Commonwealth Games champion. However, a tragedy happened with Sushil Kumar in 2021. He got arrested in a murder case of a junior wrestler, which eventually ended his wrestling career. 

Famous for- Sushil Kumar is known as the only Indian Olympic wrestler who is a consecutive three-time winner of the Commonwealth Games. 

5. Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat is the most popular Indian wrestler in Olympics, following the footsteps of her cousins Geeta and Babita Phogat. Though her cousins have achieved massive success and fame in the Olympics wrestling, Vinesh has been reshaping Indian women’s wrestling in recent years. 

She has won a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2018 and proved herself in the field. Vinesh has won eight medals, which is a big achievement in her career. In 2019 and 2022, she won eight bronze medals at the Asian Championships. Vinesh is a three-time Commonwealth Games champion. 

Even though she remained a prominent Olympic wrestler, she has also faced tragedy in her career. During the Paris Olympics in 2024, Vinesh made it to the final in the women’s 50kg division. However, she was eventually disqualified after failing to make weight on the day of the gold medal bout, leaving many wondering how Vinesh missed weight. After this upsetting moment, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling. 

Famous for- Vinesh Phogat is the first woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2018. 

How Many Medals Have Indian Wrestlers Won At The Olympics?

Wrestling is the second most successful sport at the Summer Games after Hockey in India.  The first medal was won by KD Jadhav at the 1952 Helsinki Games. Even though it took 56 years after its first medal, India won its second medal at Beijing in 2008. However, since then, India has won at least one medal at each of the last five Olympics.  

Here is the table that shows the number of medals India has won over the years. 

India’s Legacy in the Olympics 

Wrestling is the sport where India continues to shine for all these years. Indian Olympians are consistently rising and making India proud in International arenas.

With their strategic mindset and resilience, Indian wrestlers, inspiring others, stay focused on their path until they achieve their goals. 

From KD Jadhav to Vinesh Phogat, Indians keep rising in wrestling and bringing medals every four years in the Olympics.