Munish Sood
Mandi
Seventeen-year-old wrestler Shauryaveer Yadav from Mandi district has brought laurels to Himachal Pradesh by securing a silver medal at the National Cadet Wrestling Championship held in Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
Competing in the 110 kg Greco-Roman category, Shauryaveer delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament. He defeated Rajasthan’s Pankaj Mali in the quarterfinals and overcame Kerala’s Stephany Seb in the semifinals. In the final, he fought hard but lost to host state wrestler Rudra, finishing as runner-up.
A student of Government Senior Secondary School, Sundernagar, Shauryaveer has consistently shown promise in wrestling. He had earlier represented Himachal Pradesh at the National School Games, where he won a bronze medal.
His achievements also extend to the international arena. Representing India, Shauryaveer won a medal at the Asian Kurash Championship, further enhancing his reputation. This year, he also claimed notable titles such as Mandi Kumar and Suket Kumar.
Strong Sporting Legacy Behind Success
Shauryaveer comes from a distinguished sporting family. His grandfather, Bhikham Ram, was a well-known wrestler. His father, Dr. Sanjay Yadav, is an international athlete, a recipient of the Parshuram Award, and has been honored with the State Teacher Award–2024. His uncle, Jagdish, has also earned recognition in wrestling by winning titles such as Himachal Kesari and Himachal Kumar.
Gratitude and Future Aspirations
Shauryaveer expressed gratitude to Himachal Pradesh Wrestling Association President Rajendra Thakur and other officials for their support. He also acknowledged the guidance of Greco-Roman team coach Ranveer Thakur.
His coach, Balbir Thakur, who runs the Lakhanpur Akhara, congratulated him on the achievement and announced that a felicitation ceremony will be organized soon. He expressed confidence that Shauryaveer will continue to excel and, with dedicated training at the national camp, achieve greater success at the international level.
