Chandgi Ram

Chandgi Ram (9 November 1937 – 29 June 2010), often referred to as Master Chandgi Ram, was a freestyle wrestler from India. He won gold medal in the 1970 Asian Games and represented India in the 1972 Summer Olympics. Along with amateur wrestling, he was very active in the traditional Indian wrestling, where he had won all major titles, including Hind Kesari, Bharat Kesari, Bharat Bhim, Rustom-e-Hind and Maha Bharat Kesari.

Chandgi Ram
Chandgi Ram in 1969
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born9 November 1937
Sisai village, Hisar, British India
(now in Sisai village, Hisar district, Haryana, India)
Died29 June 2010(2010-06-29) (aged 72)[1]
Delhi, India
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[2]
Weight198 lb (90 kg)[2]
Websitemasterchandgiram.in
Sport
CountryIndia
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle wrestling
Medal record
Men's Freestyle wrestling
Representing  India
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1970 Bangkok 100 kg

He is remembered for the work that he has done for the introduction, acceptance and popularization of the women's wrestling in India. Some of his trainees went on to become prominent women's wrestling coaches of the country.

In 1969, Government of India (GoI) conferred the Arjuna Award on him for his achievements in the tradition wrestling. And two years later, he was conferred with the country's fourth highest civilian award – Padma Shri.

Early and personal life

Ram was born on 9 November 1937 in Sisai village of British India's Hisar, which is located in the present-day Hisar district of Haryana, India. He took up wrestling at a comparatively older age of 21 and became national champion three years later in 1961.[1][3] He married three times and had three daughters and three sons.[4]

Ram, who was popularly known as Master Chandgi Ram, served in Indian army's Jat Regiment, along with working as a teacher in his early life. He later on served as Haryana's Additional Director of Sports.[5]

Ram was a lifelong vegetarian. In 1969, he was described as being "ninety kilograms of vegetarian muscle".[6]

Career

Ram became national champion for the first time in 1961 at Ajmer, regaining his title two years later at Jalandhar.[3] Although he represented India in amateur wrestling, he remained very active in the traditional Indian wrestling in 1960s, where he had won all major titles, including Hind Kesari, Bharat Kesari, Bharat Bhim, Rustom-e-Hind and Maha Bharat Kesari. In 1969, Government of India (GoI) conferred the Arjuna Award on him for his achievements in the tradition wrestling.[7]

In the 1970 Asian Games, he represented India in the 100 kg freestyle event. He reached to the final defeating en route the world championships medallist Abolfazl Anvari of Iran. In the final, he defeated Japan's Shizuo Yada, there by winning gold medal.[7][8]

For the 1972 Summer Olympics, he shifted to lower weight category and represented India in the 90 kg freestyle event.[2] He lost his first bout to Canada's George Saunders. He was eliminated after losing his next bout to the eventual silver medallist Gennady Strakhov.[9]

After participating in the 1972 Olympics, he shifted from Haryana to Delhi, where he opened up his wrestling training centre in 1975 – Chandgi Ram Vyayamshala.[4][10]

Work for the women's wrestling in India

Ram's struggle to introduce women's wrestling in India begun in 1997, which was the year of its inclusion in the Olympics. To start with, he persuaded both of his daughters – Sonika Kaliraman and Deepika Kaliraman – to join wrestling. His wrestling training center, which is commonly known as the Chandgi Ram Akhara, became India's first training center for women's wrestling. He also started to persuade coaches and wrestlers around the country to introduce women's exhibition matches in the traditional wrestling tournaments. All these efforts resulted in severe opposition both from the outsiders and the insiders of his training center. At one of the instances, when Ram's two daughters went to the wrestling pit during a village tournament of Haryana, they, along with Ram, were stoned and chased by the villagers. But, in spite of all the opposition, he kept on his efforts. Sonika went on to win country's highest wrestling title – Bharat Kesri – along with becoming Asian Junior Wrestling Champion.[4][11]

Ram also influenced future women's wrestling coaches. One of his wards, Mahavir Singh Phogat – who trained at Ram's center since the age of 16 – was persuaded by Ram to introduce his daughters to wrestling. Phogat went on to train his daughters Geeta and Babita, along with their cousin Vinesh, all of whom became international wrestlers.[12] Jabbar, who got inclined toward women's wrestling during his training stint under Ram, went on to train Alka Tomar. Jagroop Rathi, Ram's co-coach, was also convinced by him to introduce his daughter Neha Rathi into wrestling.[4][13]

Death

Ram died on 29 June 2010 from a heart attack, aged 72.[14]

Awards

Legacy

References
  1. "Asian games medallist Chandgi Ram passes away". Hindustan Times. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. "Chandgi Ram". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  3. Duggal, Saurabh (June 2010). "Haryana: In the service of the nation" (PDF). Haryana Review. Government of Haryana. 24 (6): 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  4. Sengupta, Rudraneil (29 September 2014). "Six Ways to Break the Shackles". United World Wrestling. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  5. "Kalmadi condoles death of wrestler Chandgi Ram". Zee News. PTI. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  6. Alter, Joseph S. (3 August 1992). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. University of California Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-520-07697-6.
  7. "1970 Asian Games champion wrestler Chandgi Ram passes away". The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  8. "Asian Games: Freestyle Seniors: 1970-12-10 Bangkok (THA): 100.0 kg". iat.uni-leipzig.de. United World Wrestling. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  9. "Die Spiele: Volume 3: The competitions" (PDF). LA84 Foundation: 138. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Arora, Bhanvi (20 February 2015). "Chandgi Ram Akhara promoting women wrestling since 40 years". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  11. Khurana, Suanshu (7 June 2012). "Fight the Good Fight". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  12. Norris, Pritam (10 May 2016). "Vinesh and Sakshi's Olympics berth a new page in the story of female wrestling in India". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  13. Chaturvedi, Uthra G. (30 June 2010). "He helped women storm a male bastion". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  14. Selvaraj, Jonathan (30 June 2010). "Guruji is gone, but at his akhada training will go on like always - Indian Express". Indian Express. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  15. "Arjun Award Winners for "Wrestling"". yas.nic.in. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  16. "Padma Shri Awardees". India.gov.in. Government of India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  17. "Citybriefs: Wrestling tourney from 7th". The Indian Express. Express News Service. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
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