Mukhtiar Singh: Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| caption = Singh receiving Arjun Award from President Dr. Zakhir Hussain, 1967

| nationality = Indian

| show-medals = true

}}

'''Captain Mukhtiar Singh''' (25 October 1943 &ndash; 19 November 2019), popularly known as Mukhiya, was an Indian wrestler. He was the first one to grab two gold medals for India in [[Commonwealth Games]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/cwg-wrestling-a-reputation-to-live-up-to/article23425883.ece|title=CWG Wrestling: A reputation to live up to|first=Y. B.|last=Sarangi|website=Sportstar}}</ref> and also he won a bronze medal in the [[Wrestling at the 1970 Asian Games|1970 Asian Games]]. He served [[Indian Army]] for 26 years and retired as Hon. Captain in 1988. [[Indian Army]] honored him with [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] (VSM) for his outstanding services.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/mukhtiar-singh-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418120823/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/si/mukhtiar-singh-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Mukhtiar Singh Olympic Results |access-date=5 April 2019}}</ref> He was awarded [[Arjun Award]], the second-highest sporting honour of India, in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|publisher = The Official Website of Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports Of India |title =Arjun Award Awarded to Mukhtiar Singh|url=https://yas.nic.in/arjun-award-winners-wrestling}}</ref>

 

==Biography==

Mukhtiar Singh was born on 25 October 1943 in village Baltikari, Raya, he belongs to a jat family [[Mathura]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher = The Official Website of Olympic Games |title =Biographical information of Muktiar Singh|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/58737}}</ref> He was popularly known as Mukhiya Pahalwan.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/20120827-olympic-silver-medallist-sushil-kumar-yogeshwar-dutt-bronze-759466-1999-11-30|title=Haryana's Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt bring glory for the state at Olympics 2012|author=Asit Jolly |date=November 30, 1999 |magazine=India Today}}</ref> His father Ninua Singh was a farmer while his mother Parmali Devi was a housewife. Singh grew up with five brothers. At the age of 12 he had a good hold on his sport and was known by people of nearby districts. After gaining some potential he started practicing under the guidance of his uncle Amichand Pahalwan. He was enrolled in 2nd Jat Regiment, [[Indian Army]] in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=vcRGnsVKziZrPGjoTL2exg==&ParentID=GXSWxisc54XbjGzP4107XmhOibJw/DDPJquzLOANLK0= | title=The Official Home Page of the Indian Army }}</ref> Later he participated in Services wrestling in the lightweight class and became the champion of Eastern Command on his very first appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3037/event/1494|title=Wrestling Freestyle 74kg - Men Edinburgh 1970 &#124; Commonwealth Games Federation}}</ref> But he was firstly recognized in the Indian Army when he fought against international wrestler of Indian Army Pahalwan Uday Chand during services tournament. He was awarded with gold medal in the lightweight in the Services championship in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|publisher = The Official Website of Olympic Games |title =Welterweight, Freestyle (≤74 kilograms), Men|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/126604}}</ref> He stood first in 1966 in his weight class. He was accordingly selected to represent India in the [[British Empire]] and [[Commonwealth Games]] at [[Kingston, Jamaica]] in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|publisher = The Official Website of Commonwealth Games India |title =Commonwealth participation Of Mukhtiar Singh|url=https://olympic.ind.in/winner-athletes/48}}</ref> He won a gold medal defeating all wrestlers in his class there, including the famous Pakistani wrestler M. Hussain and Greig of New Zealand. He was obstructed by a knee injury from taking part in the Vth Asian games at Bangkok in 1966.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3036/event/1492|title=Wrestling Freestyle 68kg - Men Kingston 1966 &#124; Commonwealth Games Federation}}</ref>

 

 

==Achievements and participation==

*Olympic games<ref>{{cite web|publisher = The Official Website of Olympic Games |title = Wrestling at the 1968 Mexico Summer Olympic Games|url = http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1968/WRE/mens-welterweight-freestyle.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420165015/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1968/WRE/mens-welterweight-freestyle.html|archive-date = 20 April 2010}}</ref>

**1968: Mexico Olympic

 

==Awards==

*1967― Arjun Award

*1992― Mewar Award

 

==Judge, coach and referee==

*1991: World Wrestling Championship, Varna, Bulgaria

*1996: Asian Wrestling Championship, New Delhi

==Death==

Mukhtiar Singh was struck with [[Alzheimer's disease]] and he passed away on 19 November 2019.

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]

[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]

[[Category:Asian Games medalists in wrestling]]

[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1970 Asian Games]]