Wrestling – Champions
Every participating country has its own governing body to organize the game successfully throughout the calendar. Here is a list of some important tournaments in this category.
- Asian Games
- Olympic Games
- World Championships
- Commonwealth Games
- Continental Championships
- Mediterranean Championships
Based on the wrestler’s weight, the terms used are as follows −
Weight | Term |
---|---|
115 pounds (52 kg) | Flyweight |
139 pounds (63 kg) | Featherweight |
150 pounds (68 kg) | Lightweight |
161 pounds (73 kg) | Super Lightweight |
170 pounds (77 kg) | Welterweight |
181 pounds (82 kg) | Super Welterweight |
192 pounds (87 kg) | Middleweight |
203 pounds (92 kg) | Super Middleweight |
214 pounds (97 kg) | Light Heavyweight |
231 pounds (105 kg) | Junior Heavyweight/Cruiserweight |
231 pounds (105 kg Minimum) | Heavyweight |
Wrestling – Hall of Fame
Many wrestlers have left and are still leaving their mark on various championships and international tournaments.
Yogeshwar Dutt
Popularly known as ‘Yogi’, this Indian wrestler comes from North Indian state of Haryana. He won gold medal in 65Kg freestyle event conducted during Asian games in year 2014 in spite of going through the trauma of his father’s death 10 days before the games.
Yogeshwar also bagged a gold in 2003 Commonwealth Games. He is a recipient of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2012 given by the Government of India.
Natalia Vorobieva
She is a Russian wrestler born in Tulun, Soviet Union. She is World Champion, runner-up 2013 and bronze medalist in 2013 year. She is also the holder of a number of titles at the youth levels.
Natalia had an immense inclination towards wrestling and she entered into this power sport when she was 10. Her mother inspired her to take up this sport. Today, she is a well-known sportsperson of wrestling, the men-dominating game.
Artur Taymazov
Arthur is an Ossetian-Uzbek wrestler and Uzbekistan’s most decorated Olympian. He is from Tashkent. He decided to wrestle at the age of 11 years, when a freestyle wrestling club was opened in his village.
He participated in London Olympics 2012, Beijing Olympics in 2008, and Athens Olympics in 2004 in which he received gold medal in 120Kg freestyle wrestling.
In the Asian Games conducted in years 2000, 2006, and 2010, Arthur received gold medals in 130 Kg freestyle wrestling.
Armen Nazaryan
Armen is an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler who represented Bulgaria. He won the European Championship six times in 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2003. He won World Champion three times (in 2002, 2003, and 2005).
Armen also has to his credit two Olympic titles. He was recognized by the FILA as the best fighter of the year in 1998 and 2003. He was awarded as coach of the year for all sports in Bulgaria in 2013.
Sushil Kumar
This World Championship gold medal winner hails from a Hindu Jaat family of Delhi, India. He started wrestling at the age of 14. He started taking lessons in freestyle wrestling at Chhatrassal Stadium Aakhada (Wrestling School).
He won two gold medals in Commonwealth Games, once in 66Kg category at Delhi in year 2010 and another in 74Kg category at Glasgow in 2014. He also won a silver at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.