Sirmaur grappler to represent India at world meet in Greece

The World Grappling Championship will be held from November 1 to 4 in Loutraki city of Greece, where Yashwant Singh, a physical education teacher at Government Senior Secondary School, Jaihar in Sirmaur district, will represent India in the veterans’ 84 kg weight category. His selection for the international event came after an impressive performance at the 18th Grappling Federation of India (GFI) competition recently held in Maharashtra.

Aged 46, Singh has been a well-known name in the wrestling circuit of Himachal Pradesh for the past 25 years. His sporting journey began with taekwondo, where he clinched a gold medal at the Inter-College National Championship in Maharashtra in 2005. He has continued to shine in multiple disciplines, securing gold medals in both judo and arm wrestling at the 2023–24 Masters Games National Competition.

Hailing from Jaihar Panchayat in Pachhad constituency, Singh is the son of Brij Mohan Singh. Over the years, he has actively contributed as a member of the Indian Grappling Federation, which has been working to popularize the sport across the country. With the federation’s growing efforts, grappling is gradually finding space in schools and colleges as well.

Singh expressed pride at the opportunity to don the national colors for the first time in grappling at the world stage. “It has always been my dream to win a gold medal for the country, and I am determined to give my best in Greece,” he said.