Yogeshwar Dutt is an Indian wrestler who has emerged as one of the top wrestlers in India. He has won plenty of medals to become one of the most well-known wrestlers of his generation. With the victory of a Bronze Medal at 2012 London Olympics, he became one of the very few individual Olympic medallists from India.
Early Life of Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt was born in Haryana on 2nd November 1982, to a Brahmin family. Balraj Pehlwan, a wrestler of his native village, was his inspiration and thus he started wrestling from a very small age of 8 years. He received his training from the coach Ralph. In 1992, when he was in Class 5, he won a school championship and thereafter his family encouraged and supported his interest in wrestling.
Career of Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt"s journey towards success began at a young age with his victory in the 2003 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship where he won a Gold Medal. Later he participated in Men`s freestyle 55 kg at the Athens Olympics 2004, and acquired 18th rank. He suffered a personal setback just few days ahead of the 2006 Asian Games at Doha when his father died and he also sustained a knee injury. However, he overcame all the setbacks and won the Bronze Medal in the 60 kg category. His performance was exemplary of his immense physical and emotional strength. He qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning a gold medal at the 2008 Asian Championships held at South Korea. It was Yogeshwar Dutt"s second appearance at the Olympics but he was never in contention for a medal and lost in the quarterfinals of the 60 kg freestyle event.
In the year 2010, Yogeshwar Dutt won a 60 kg title, Gold Medal in the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi, despite of a severe knee injury. In the Summer Olympics of 2012, he contributed significantly in the medal collections of India. He marked his victory in the 30th Olympic Games, hosted by London, by earning a Bronze Medal in the men`s freestyle 60 kg category. It was only the third time in history that an Indian wrester won a medal at the Olympics. Yogeshwar Dutt next represented India at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland and won Gold Medal in the 65 kg freestyle category. In the same year, he also won a Gold Medal at the Asian Games in the 65 kg freestyle category.
Awards and Achievements of Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt also acquired the fame of being the second Indian to achieve this award. He has also been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2012. It is the highest honour for sportspersons in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 2013.
