Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - In a significant demand from the wrestling fraternity, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India, Sanjay Singh, has called for India’s first Olympic wrestling medalist, Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, to be honoured with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan. He given said that he is even ready to write to the concerned authorities urging that he be honoured.

Speaking on the issue, Sanjay Singh emphasized that Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav’s contribution to Indian sports remains unmatched and deserves the highest level of national recognition. Jadhav created history at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics by winning a bronze medal in wrestling, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat in the sport. His achievement laid the foundation for India’s success in international wrestling. Despite his historic accomplishment, many believe that Jadhav has not received the level of recognition he truly deserves. Echoing this sentiment, Singh urged the government to correct this long-standing oversight by awarding him the Padma Vibhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours. The court also highlighted that the Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian honour, awarded for outstanding and distinguished service.

The demand has once again sparked a larger conversation around honouring sporting legends who have shaped India’s legacy on the global stage. Whether the government will act on this appeal remains to be seen, but the call to recognize Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav continues to grow stronger.