Punjab’s Sandeep overcomes hurdles to win Asian wrestling silver

In a proud moment for Punjab and the nation, wrestler Sandeep Singh Mann (in pic) bagged a silver medal after losing the final of the 79kg freestyle category at the Asian Wrestling Championship, ending a 22-year-long wait for a Punjab athlete to reach the senior-level Asian final.

Sandeep fell short after a narrow 2-1 defeat against Japan's Keyvan Gharehdaghi. He had entered the final after a dominant win over Somonjon Ikromov of Tajikistan in the semis.

Sandeep hails from Burj Rathi village in Mansa district and comes from a humble farming family. His father Sagar Singh owns about four acres of land. Despite limited resources, Sandeep's passion and dedication for wrestling have propelled him to international success.

Sandeep has trained under the guidance of experienced coaches across Punjab, including Sukhmandar Singh at the Malwa Wrestling Club at Bhagta Bhai Ka village in Bathinda and Mukesh Kumar in Khanna. His initial interest in wrestling was nurtured during his childhood days.

Currently training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) camp in Lucknow, Sandeep has benefited from structured national-level preparation. Sources said that he was allowed flexibility by his department job of a wrestling coach in Bathinda.

Family sources revealed that Sandeep was raised with a strong support from his extended family, especially his uncle, who played a key role in his upbringing. He has one sister.

Punjab Wrestling Association general secretary Shahbaz Singh said, "Earlier, Palwinder Singh Cheema had competed in the men's senior category."