Wrestling has been a part of human society since ancient times. In India also it received regular patronage from the Emperors and Kings. Wrestling in India then was popularly known as Malla Yuddha. In famous Indian epic, Mahabharata, Bhima was considered to be a great wrestler of that time and some of the other great wrestlers included Jarasandha, Duryodhana, and Karna. Another Indian epic, Ramayana also mentions about wrestling and Hanuman is described as one of the great wrestlers of that time. Wrestling in India continued to increase its popularity during modern days. Even during the British rule, wrestling in India got encouraging support, as the British rulers included the game into the military practice. In fact, India was considered among the top 10 countries in wrestling till the 1960s. India also hosted the World Wrestling Championship at New Delhi in 1967.
The term Kushti, which means wrestling, denotes both a local form of the art as well as a more global combat. Kushti is composed of three primary dimensions: dao, pench, and paintra (moves, counter-moves, and stance). There may be similarities between the daos known as multani, dhobi pat, and kalajangh and the corresponding freestyle moves known as arm drag, front hip throw, and fireman carry. But what is significantly different about wrestling in India is that wrestlers mostly wrestle in mud pits, engage in bouts that last for half an hour or more. At other times and under other circumstances Indian wrestlers follow clearly defined international guidelines, rules, and regulations.
Worldwide wrestling entered a new era with the acknowledgement of Female Wrestling as an Olympic discipline in the Athens Games in 2004.
