Pune: Kolhapur's own Samarth Mahakave (16), representing India, clinched a silver medal in the 55 kg weight category at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championship held in Jordan from June 22 to 30, 2024. This marked his debut in an official international wrestling tournament.

In a fiercely contested final, Samarth faced Uzbekistan's Sardor Kholmurzaev and, despite a valiant effort, finished with a score of 6-4, earning second place.

"We are immensely proud of Samarth Mahakave's achievement at the Asian Wrestling Championship," said Amol Yadav, Coach of the Indian Sub Junior Wrestling Team.

"This success is a testament to Samarth’s hard work and the collective efforts of the Sports Authority of India,” Yadav remarked. “We aim to nurture more champions like Samarth for our country." He emphasized that the structured approach of the Sports Authority of India enabled the team to win an international medal after three years.

Discussing the team’s comprehensive support system, Yadav added, “Our team includes high-performance coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, strength and conditioning experts, and support staff, all contributing scientific rigor to our training process.” He also highlighted the significant guidance and support from Pandurang Chate, Regional Director of SAI.

Samarth Mahakave is now set to compete in the U-17 National Wrestling Championship, representing India in the Greco-Roman 55 kg category, scheduled to be held in Udham Singh Nagar (Pantnagar), Uttarakhand, from July 5 to 7, 2024.

The Indian government has expressed confidence that the performance of Indian athletes on the international stage will continue to advance in the coming years.

The Indian contingent secured a total of 11 medals at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championships in Amman, Jordan, including four gold, two silver, and five bronze.