Tokyo Olympic Silver Medallists Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya Conferred With Khel Ratna Award

The Tokyo Olympic silver medallists wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya was conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for the year 2021.

Ravi Kumar Dahiya was transformed into a wrestling ace at New Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium, where Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt did the hard yards for years.

At the Tokyo Olympics, he failed to two-time world champion Zavur Uguev in the men’s freestyle 57kg final and had to compensate for silver. Winning silver in Tokyo Olympics has been a life-altering moment for Dahiya.

The challenge, he says, is to proceed with living the same simple lifestyle without too much confusion. “If I want to continue competing for long and win more medals, I’ll have to live a normal life,” Dahiya says.

The wrestler was excited to be chosen for the Khel Ratna, the highest honour bestowed on a sportsperson in India.

He is 23, has an Olympic silver medal to his name, and has been conferred with the highest sporting honour of India Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. “It’s definitely a huge honour to be nominated for the Khel Ratna, the highest sporting recognition in the country. This will inspire me to keep working harder and win more medals for my country,” he said.