Uday Chand
Uday Chand (born June 25, 1935) (उदय चन्द) is Wrestler and first Arjun award winner from Jandli Kalan, Fatehabad, Haryana. He is a retired Indian wrestler and wrestling coach who was the first individual world championship medal winner from independent India. Uday Chand was awarded the first Arjuna Award in wrestling in 1961, by Government of India.[1] Uday Chand has revealed that because of his habit of use of tobacco he lost the Gold Medal and had to satisfy with winning a Bronze Medal in Light Weight (67 kg) Freestyle at 1961 World Wrestling Championships at Yokohama.[2]
Early life
He was born on 25 June 1935 in Jandli Kalan Village of Hisar District of Haryana in Bheron Jat clan family. Currently he resides in Hisar.[3]
Career
He started his career with the Indian Army. He created history by winning a Bronze Medal in Light Weight (67 kg) Freestyle at 1961 World Wrestling Championships at Yokohama.[4] During his bout against the eventual world champion Mahamed-Ali Sanatkaran he was particularly unlucky as referees judged his throwing down of the opponent outside the area and the bout ended in a 1-1 draw.[5] For his achievements he was conferred the first Arjuna Award in wrestling in 1961 by President of India,.[6]
He participated in three Olympic Games namely Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968 and finished with a creditable 6th Rank in Mexico City.[7]
He took part twice in Asian Games winning two silver medals in 70 kg Freestyle as well as 70 kg Greco-Roman at 1962 Asian Games Jakarta and won a bronze medal in 70 kg Freestyle at 1966 Asian Games Bangkok. In addition to these he participated in four different world wrestling championships i.e. Yokohama 1961, Manchester 1965, Delhi 1967 and Edmonton 1970. He signed off his glittering career with a befitting gold medal at 1970 British Commonwealth Games held at Edinburgh, Scotland.[8]
He remained an undisputed national champion in India from 1958 to 1970.
Later life
After retiring from Indian Army he joined Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar as a coach and rendered his services from 1970 to 1996. During his time as coach he groomed many international level wrestlers and guided the university team to many All Indian Inter University Championship triumphs. Currently he lives in Hisar and still actively assists budding wrestlers.
External links
- indiatimes.com, Sep 1, 2017
- An article on Indian Style Wrestling with photos
- https://m.facebook.com/udaychand.pahalwan
Gallery
-
Hari Ram is elder brother of Udey Chand
-
Udey Chand & Hari Ram pahalwan, Hari Ram is elder brother of Udey Chand
-
References
- ↑ Arjun Award Winners for "Wrestling", Ministry of Youth Welfare & Sports, Government of India Official Website
- ↑ तंबाकू के चलते विश्व चैम्पियनशिप में स्वर्ण पदक से चूक गया था : उदय चंद, By: IANS, 31 May 2017
- ↑ "What makes Haryana the champ". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 10 August 2014.
- ↑ "Sushil Kumar is World wrestling champion". The Hindu. September 12, 2010.
- ↑ Preobrazensky, Sergei Wrestling is a Man's Game Progress Publishers Moscow, 1981, P. 11.
- ↑ Arjun Award Winners for "Wrestling", Ministry of Youth Welfare & Sports, Government of India Official Website
- ↑ Udey Chand Biography sports-reference.com
- ↑ Medal tally by sport, Commonwealth Games Federation Official Website
Back to The Wrestlers