New Delhi: Sangram Singh, a veteran heavyweight wrestler and Commonwealth champion has scripted history by becoming the first Indian male to win a MMA fight. Singh faced off against Pakistan’s Ali Raza Nasir who is 17 years younger than him and thereby proved that age is just a number.
Interestingly, the match lasted for a mere minute and thirty seconds which is the fastest win by an Indian fighter in the 93 kg category. The fight took place at the Gama International Fighting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Post the win, Sangram Singh remarked-
This victory is a step in the direction of MMA in India having a better future. It transcends personal achievement. It is my hope that the acknowledgement on a global scale will motivate the Indian government to implement programs that support mixed martial arts (MMA) and inspire young people to pursue this sport. I have no doubt that this will encourage a great deal of young athletes to find their inner strength strive for greatness and overcome obstacles in the mixed martial arts world…
In the closing comments, Singh also praised the Almighty and his coach for the golden opportunity that he got.
Who is Sangram Singh?
A talented and outstanding wrestler with a record in national and international competitions, Sangram Singh has made a defiant impact on Indian sports. Singh was an arthritis patient earlier which had made wrestling difficult for him. However, he battled all odds and defied every obstacle to carve out a professional career for himself.
He was also awarded the World’s Best Professional Wrestler in 2012. Subsequently, Sangram won the 2015 and 2016 Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship. This earned him the media limelight and post that he also had a successful TV and film career.