Wrestler Kartar wins 20th gold medal

Jalandhar, October 19

Punjabi wrestler Kartar Singh created yet another history by bagging the 20th gold medal in the Veterans World Wrestling Competition that concluded in Greece recently. He won a gold medal in the 97 kg category by defeating Mohammad Javad Samarghandi of Iran.

While speaking to Jalandhar Tribune over the phone, the wrestler said he was happy to have kept his past wins intact and would further work hard to maintain the title. Singh has won gold for the record 20th time. He had also won gold medals in the Asian Games held in 1978 in Bangkok and 1986 in Seoul. He is the only Asian wrestler who had been competing at the international level since 1974.

He has represented the country thrice in the Olympic Games and brought laurels to the nation by winning different titles during the World University, World Wrestling Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Wrestling Championships.

Decorated with the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, Arjuna Award and Padma Shri Award, the wrestler has also served as the Inspector General, Punjab Police. The Veterans World Wrestling Competition features athletes aged 35 years and above and includes seven age divisions for men, in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. — TNS