Sonepat: Ecstatic over 23-year-old wrestler Ravi Dahiya’s win, family breaks into celebrations

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, August 4

Residents of the district’s Nahri village are ecstatic about Ravi Dahiya’s entry into the final of the freestyle 57-kg wrestling event at the Tokyo Olympics.

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The 23-year-old wrestler’s family, along with villagers, gathered at his house and celebrated the proud moment by distributing laddoos and by dancing to dhol beats. Feeling proud, the villagers claimed he would bring the gold for the country.

Ravi comes from a humble background. His familyowns just one acre. Ravi’s father Rakesh Dahiya takes land on lease for farming. When Ravi trained in Delhi, Rakesh travalled 40 km daily from Nahri village to the Chhattarsal Stadium to give fresh milk and ghee to him.

“Ravi is fond of choorma, kheer and halwa. When he’ll return with the medal, we’ll welcome him by offering him his favourite dishes,” says Urmila, Ravi’s mother.

His father Rakesh said: “Ravi has brought laurels to the country. We have complete faith that he will definitely bring the gold. It is a proud moment not just for us, but for all Indians.”

“Ravi started practising at the age of six. Raj, a prominent wrestler of our village, started training him after which he was taken to the Chhatarsal Stadium, where he learnt wrestling tricks by watching senior players,” he added.

Rakesh further said: “After looking at Ravi’s talent, his guru Mahabali Satpal also started nurturing him.”

CM wishes wrestler luck for final bout

Chandigarh: CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday congratulated Ravi Dahiya on reaching the final of the 57-kg category freestyle wrestling competition at the Tokyo Olympics. Wishing him best of luck, Khattar hoped that he would win the gold medal for the country. TNS

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