How wrestlers' mischief turned Delhi localities into new hub

HARYANA is India's wrestling citadel. The state is considered a wrestling powerhouse with akharas (wrestling academies) in every nook and corner.

- FIROZ MIRZA @ Chennai

Out of eight Olympic medallists since 1952 in the sport so far, five were born in the state with only the first medal winner KD Jadhav and double medallist Sushil Kumar born in Maharashtra and Delhi respectively. Such has been the dominance of Haryana in wrestling that even today, national teams in all age groups usually comprise more than 90 per cent wrestlers from the state.

That sway, however, seems to be diminishing, at least on paper. Going by birth records of up and coming wrestlers and even seniors to some extent, Begampur in Narela Zone and Suleman Nagar of Rohini Zone in New Delhi are emerging as the new wrestling nurseries. Both localities are in the North West part of the national capital and next to each other.