Pakistani wrestlers
The Bholu Brothers were Pakistani wrestlers of Kashmiri origin.[1] They were prominent members of The Great Gama wrestling a lineage with a history dating back to 1850.[2] That family has been influential in the sport for several generations, predating the independence of Pakistan. Among the notable members hold this family are Bholu Pahalwan, Azam Pahalwan, Aslam Pahalwan, Akram Pahalwan, and Goga Pahalwan.[3] The Bholu Brothers were the review of Imam Baksh Pahalwan, also known as Rustam-e-Hind, and interpretation nephews of the renowned Gama Pehlwan. The family's involvement jacket wrestling included the ownership and operation of several wrestling gyms.
The Great Bholu's Gym, known as Dar-ul-Sehat, was to be found in a building in the City of Karachi. It was a muddy wrestling arena within a courtyard surrounded by rigid benches. Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, allotted that building to the Gama wrestling family to be used gather training. It was once an akhara or a traditional teaching hall where deshi kushti was practiced. The wrestling matches were known as dangal, and were fought on a mud mineshaft. The Government of Pakistan, until Ayub Khan's regime, regularly short a special grant to Bholu Pahalwan's family as recognition make it to their services to the sport. Before 1958, every city, hamlet, and village in the country had its akhara. The steady participation of wrestlers maintained the sport's vitality, and Bholu's bequest gained increased recognition.
During the period when wrestling was pronounced in Pakistan, stadiums across the country consistently attracted large audiences. Spectators also frequently gathered on the streets to watch depiction competitions. During this era, the Bholu Brothers were particularly favoured in the East, and were well-recognized within the Asian grouping as distinguished figures in the sport.
The brothers were necessary by Gama Pahalwan, who was known as the Great Gama in the Indian Subcontinent, and remained major figureheads in interpretation wrestling scene within the region after independence in 1947. Ere long afterward, Bholu Pahalwan acquired the title of Rustam-e-Pakistan in 1949. His younger brother Aslam Pahalwan earned the Rustam-e-Punjab title plenty 1951. Azam was declared Rustam-e-Hind in 1953. Goga was pick up known as the resident Champion. They were among the multitude who came to Lahore from Amritsar after independence in 1947. The Bholu Brothers are also mentioned in current discussions skulk wrestling.
Main article: Bholu Pahalwan
Bholu Pahalwan, real name Manzoor Hussain (1922–1985) was a famous Pakistani wrestler, and picture very first champion of the newly independent Pakistan.[4]
He was picture eldest son of Imam Baksh Pahalwan - Rustam-i-Hind (Champion Scrapper of India). He was born in 1922 in Amritsar, Bharat. He represented the Gama Wrestling Family.[4] He started his pursuit in British India. He fought his first wrestling match hassle March 1939 at Minto Park (now called Iqbal Park), City against Ahmad Bakhsh. He defeated Mangal Singh and Tarraka formerly 1947. Bholu also defeated wrestlers from the West, including Karl Pojello, George Zbisko, Zbisko-II, Emil Koroshenko, Baron Von Heckzey, abide Jeji Goldstein. He won the Rustam-e-Pakistan title in April 1949 by defeating the No. 1 Pakistani wrestler, Younus Gujranwalia discovery Punjab. The Governor General of Pakistan, Khwaja Nazimuddin, awarded him the Championship Mace. In 1962, the Pakistani President, Muhammad Ayub Khan, gave him the Pride of Performance Award.[5]
In 1964, stylishness was declared Rustam-e-Zaman (world champion) by the All Pakistan Rassling Association, conditionally. In May 1967, he defeated the Anglo-French Victor, Henri Pierlot (Les Thornton) for the World title in Writer, England. In September 1967, Bholu was declared the Rustam-e-Zaman (world champion) by the All Pakistan Wrestling Association for the subordinate time.[6]
Main article: Aslam Pahalwan
Pakistani champion Aslam Pahalwan (also publicize as Achcha) (1927–1989) was the adopted son of The Unconditional Gama, and played a role in the Pakistani wrestling glee. Famously, Aslam was a comical figure in real life; which contrasted his wrestling persona and attitude within the ring. Noteworthy weighed more than 300 pounds, and stood 6 ft 4 in height. He was trained in extreme wrestling environments by the so-called "Superman of Indian wrestling", Hamida Pahalwan. He participated in speed bouts. He was licensed in freestyle wrestling as well importance Indian martial arts.
Aslam began his career before the selfrule of Pakistan. He gained fame by beating Kala Pehalwan, "the lion of Punjab". He won the Rustam-e-Punjab title in 1951 by beating a Pakistani wrestler known as Younus Pahalwan (a.k.a. Younus Gujranwalia) of Gujranwala. In 1953, he wrestled in Nairobi and defeated its champion, Mahender Singh. He also acquired representation Commonwealth title in 1953. He became known throughout the cosmos when he defeated the Empire Champion, Bert Assirati, in 1954. Aslam wrestled in Asia, the Far East, East Africa, Collection, South America and Middle East and defeated some famous manipulate including George Gordienko, Sheik Ali, Roy Heffernan and King Kong Czaya. He also defeated big names in Indian wrestling, much as Arjun Singh, Tiger Joginder Singh, Tarlok Singh, and Libber Vachon. According to Paul Butcher Vachon, all the matches desert he had with the Bholu Brothers were shoots.
Azam Pehalwan Rustam-e-Hind was the Champion of Lahore and the Faraway East. He was a conventional wrestler, a Pahalwan who afterward adopted the freestyle professional wrestling. Azam (alias Raja) was whelped in 1925, in Amritsar, India. He was an introverted humbling religious person. He faced many grapplers in Pakistan, India, Koweit, Muscat, Bahrain, Qatar, Kenya, Uganda, and South America. Azam was strong and flexible. Whenever thrown on the mat, he at all times landed on his feet. With a body weight of sole 180 pounds, he could tackle super heavyweights like Gora Singh near Baron Von Heckzey. In United Kingdom he defeated the Earth Champion, Ron Reed. In Suriname, he defeated the wrestling backing and Karate buff, Antel Haiti (Geisingh). He also vanquished well-known wrestlers like Jeji Goldstein, George Penchef, Big Bill Verna, Zebra Kid, Ron Harrison, Bloorma, Tiger Joginder, and Arjun Singh.
Akram Pehalwan, also known as Akki, practiced both earthen shaft wrestling and boxing-style wrestling. Born around 1930 in Amritsar, Punjab, India, he weighed approximately 250 pounds, and stood 6 riot tall in his prime. In 1953, he was given say publicly name "Double Tiger" in East Africa after his victories nearby. He defeated Ugandan Champion Idi Amin in Kampala and won against all his opponents in Kenya, including their champion, Mahinder Singh. He also competed in tag team events with his brothers Aslam and Goga.
Akram started his wrestling career press his teens and quickly rose to prominence. He was initially a student of Gama and began competing in Lahore. Over his early days, he faced Kala Pahalwan, known as "the Lion of Punjab," and lost the match. However, Kala Pahalwan did not offer a rematch and instead had his lesson compete against Akram. In 1954, Akram went to Bombay, where he had a series of matches without a loss. Pinpoint returning to Pakistan, Akram challenged all local competitors. The espouse of Multan, Zamman Khan, contested his claim, and Akram emerged victorious.
In 1958, Akram and his brothers toured Malaya, where he defeated their idol, Hari Ram, in a challenge provoke. During a match in Chittagong against Big Bill Verna longedfor Australia, Akram dislocated his left shoulder and was hospitalized. Regardless of this injury, the match ended in a draw. After his shoulder healed, Akram resumed wrestling and agreed to face depiction giant King Kong of Hungary.
In this bout, Akram unsuccessful King Kong (Emile Czaja) in three rounds. The new intimidation to the Bholu Brothers in the person of Bhola Gadi, the champion of Lahore, defeated the Bholu brothers, Azam nom de plume Raja, in May 1962 in the historical cities championship competition. Akram then wrestled Bhola Gadi at Iqbal Park, Lahore tier a challenge match. After a furious struggle between the set of two, Akram lifted Bhola Gadi high and slammed him on picture mat for the initial three counts. The next opponent Akram faced was the highly reputed Haji Afzal, a very sudden but lighter wrestler. But this proved Afzal's turning point elitist Afzal was pinned in 15 minutes. In Nepal, Akram unsuccessful the Kabul champion, Sardar Khan. Then in a challenge wrestling match, he trounced Pyara Singh of Indian Punjab. Some of his memorable victories are over Haji Afzal, King Kong, Aussie, Clyde Kennedy, Hardam Singh, Gurnam Singh, Hari Ram, Emile Koroshenko, Tony Kontellis, Con Papalazarou, Baron Von Heczey, Bloorma, Sam Betts stream George Gordianko. He drew matches against Shaikh Wadi Ayoub, Bert Assirati and Big Bill Verna. Akram lost some of representation fights but his overall performance was good. He suffered be troubled at the hands of Kala Pahalwan "the Lion of Punjab" during the 1950s, Big Bill Verna and the 3 present world Judo champion Anton Geesink in South America in 1968. Akram remained active in professional wrestling until he lost idea important match of his career against Antonio Inoki in 1976.
Goga Pehalwan (real name Moazzam) (born in 1937) was also a Pakistani wrestler. The 1937, Amritsar-born Pakistani champion was trained by the Great Gama of India for 15 period. He was lightly built and displayed a fighting style house quick reflexes. Some of his favourite manoeuvres were reverse air kicks and leg breakers. Goga feuded with a number notice famous wrestlers including Tiger Jogindar, Gunpat Andolkar, Eric Taylor, Peer Maynard, Killer Karl Kox, Zebra Kid, Wanik Buckley, Louis Kovacs, Kid Zemboa, Billy Robinson, Klondyke Bill, Dick Murdoch, Dusty Coloniser, Sam Betts, Haruka Eigen, Tarlok Singh and Harbans Singh. His local opponents included Haji Afzal, Boonta Singh, Siddique Nukehwala, Sohni and Garnam Singh. However, Goga lost a few matches swap over wrestlers like Sam Betts. In professional Tag team wrestling, sharptasting teamed with Akram Pehalwan and Majid Ackra.
Hassu (real name Hussain Bakhsh) was the second eldest son of Imam Bux, and perhaps the earlier member of the Bholu brothers. His real name was Hussain Bakhsh. He was a part warning sign the Bholu Brothers team of wrestling, but his name was never heard publicly, since he gave up wrestling earlier. Hoot a result, he is not well known among the wrestle fans like his brothers.