Hindustan Times
Renowned wrestler Chandgi Ram, who won gold in the 1970 Asian Games, passed away on Tuesday morning following a cardiac arrest. The 72-year-old, popularly known as Master Chandgi Ram, was born on November 9, 1937 in Sisai village in Hisar district of Haryana.
Chandgi Ram, the recipient of Arjuna and Padma Shri awards, served as Additional Director of Sports in Haryana and was conferred the titles of Hind Kesari, Bharat Kesari, Bharat Bhim, Rustom-e-Hind and Maha Bharat Kesari.
Chandgi Ram’s crowning glory came when he won gold in the 100kg category in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok. Two years later, he represented India in the 1972 Olympic Games at Munich.
The Indian Olympic Association president, Suresh Kalmadi, condoled the death of the wrestling great saying, “The remarkable thing about Master Chandgi Ram was that he continued to contribute to wrestling way beyond his active career. He greatly encouraged women to take to the sport and set up an akhara in Delhi so that girls could play the sport, driving them to follow their dreams and carve a niche for themselves in wrestling.
“The world of wrestling and, in fact, Indian sport will be poorer by Master Chandgi Ram’s absence,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment