New Delhi: Sangram Singh, a two-time Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion and the first ambassador of the Wrestling Federation of India (2014-2015) is poised to make history as the first Indian male wrestler to enter the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Singh will face Pakistani fighter Ali Raza Nasir in his MMA debut at the Gama International Fighting Championship on September 21, 2024, at Heroes Square 1 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat's Surabhi Gupta, Singh expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career and his desire to inspire young athletes in India. "I want to do something different and inspire all my young friends," he said. "MMA is a trending sport as in India most youngsters are drawn to sports like soccer and MMA. Maybe my return through MMA will inspire many people to pursue careers in combat sports like MMA, UFC, and others. My comeback is for all those kids who dream of becoming sportspersons. If I can help them in any way, that will be my victory."
Singh's journey into wrestling began in his village in Haryana, where he was inspired by his older brother, who was a mud wrestler.Sangram recounted, "I began wrestling from my village in Haryana. Around my early days, I would see a few wrestlers performing 'Mitti Kushti' around the village. My older brother used to do ‘mitti khushti’, so I imagined myself as a wrestler as well. Back then, the cost of 'langoot’ was ₹5. My mother would stitch it for me, or my sister would make it for me. Now the time has changed, there is a lot of money in sports and also people are getting support."
As Sangram Singh steps into the MMA ring, he hopes to inspire a new generation of athletes in India, showing them that with hard work and perseverance, they can achieve their dreams, no matter the obstacles.