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Aug 7, 2013

Documentary on Deaf Wrestler Virender Singh



Wrestler Virender Singh is India’s most successful deaf athlete. In wrestling circles, Virender’s real name is lost; he is simply called Goonga Pehelwan. Translated in English, it means ‘The Mute Wrestler’. It might seem like a politically incorrect name but the name represents a badge of pride—there are other deaf wrestlers in India, but only one Goonga Pehelwan. And to give you an idea of how successful he is, have a look at what he has achieved. He won India’s first and only gold medal at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, in 74-84kg freestyle wrestling, a silver medal at the second World Deaf Wrestling Championships in 2008 in Yerevan, Armenia, and a bronze at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan and a bronze at the 2012 World Deaf Wrestling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. That’s four medals at the only four international competitions Virender has been to. That is the measure of the success of this man.

Learn more about Virender and donate to the making of the documentary here:

http://www.goongapehelwanthefilm.com

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