Challenges did little to deter Jadhav from chasing dream
NEW DELHI: When the pages of Indian Olympic history are flipped, it is hard to miss the name of Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav. Known as the pioneer of Indian wrestling, he was the first grappler to win an Olympic medal, a bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games for independent India.
Born in Goleshwar village in Maharashtra’s Satara district, wrestling was a way of life for Jadhav. Following in the footsteps of his father, he made a mark in the discipline. After learning the basics from his father, he was spotted by English coach Rees Gardner, who honed his skills before the 1948 Olympics Games, where Jadhav finished sixth.
Four years later, Jadhav had to face challenges off and on the wrestling mat. With no funds for his trip to the Olympics, he was supported by his village folks, including his former school principal.
At Helsinki, of the seven rounds he participated in, the toughest bout was against Japanese wrestler Shonachi Ishi. He prevailed but being low on energy he wasn’t able to ward off the challenge of Russian grappler Manod Bekov in the medal round, and settled for bronze.
On his return from Helsinki, he joined the state police department but did not lose contact with the sport and regularly participated in bouts. He slipped into poverty after his wrestling days got over. He died unsung, passing away in a road accident in 1984.