Mukhtiar Singh

Captain Mukhtiar Singh (25 October 1943 – 19 November 2019), popularly known as Mukhiya, was an Indian wrestler. He was the first one to grab two gold medals for India in Commonwealth Games[2] and also he won a bronze medal in the 1970 Asian Games. He served Indian Army for 26 years and retired as Hon. Captain in 1988. Indian Army honored him with Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his outstanding services.[3] He was awarded Arjun Award, the second-highest sporting honour of India, in 1967.[4]

Chaudhary Mukhtiar Singh
Singh receiving Arjun Award from President Dr. Zakhir Hussain, 1967
Personal information
Nickname(s)Mukhiya Pahalwan,jatmal
NationalityIndian
Born(1943-10-25)25 October 1943
Baltikari, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Died19 November 2019(2019-11-19) (aged 76)
105 Saket Puri Maholi Road Mathura, India
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse(s)Surja Devi
ChildrenBrij Mohan Singh(NIS Coach)
Geeta Singh
Ravindra Chaudhary
Military career
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service1963–1988
Rank Honorary Captain
Sport
CountryIndia
SportWrestling
Medal record
Representing  India
Men's Freestyle Wrestling
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place1974 Tehran82 kg
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place1966 Kingston,Jamaica70 Kg
Gold medal – first place1970 Edinburgh, Scotland74 Kg
International events
Gold medal – first place1964 Indo-Iran Wrestling Meet, Tehran
Gold medal – first place1964 Indo-Newzealand Meet,Newzealand
Gold medal – first place1964 Indo-Iran Wrestling Meet,Tehran
Gold medal – first place1965 Indo-American Meet, Mexico
Gold medal – first place1966 Indo-England Meet, England
Gold medal – first place1967 Jasan Meet,Kabul Afghanistan
Gold medal – first place1972 Indo-Soviet Meet, Moscow Russia
Gold medal – first place1972 Indo-Russian Meet, New Delhi
Gold medal – first place1976 Indo-Soviet Meet, New Delhi
Gold medal – first place1976 Indo-Pak Meet, New Delhi

[1]

Captain Mukhtiar Singh
Mukhtiar Singh (Right) pinning down New Zealand wrestler Anthony Greig in the Commonwealth Games at Kingston (Jamaica) 1966

Biography
The Daring Grappler

Mukhtiar Singh was born on 25 October 1943 in village Baltikari, Raya, he belongs to a jat family Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.[5] He was popularly known as Mukhiya Pahalwan.[6] His father Ninua Singh was a farmer while his mother Parmali Devi was a housewife. Singh grew up with five brothers. At the age of 12 he had a good hold on his sport and was known by people of nearby districts. After gaining some potential he started practicing under the guidance of his uncle Amichand Pahalwan. He was enrolled in 2nd Jat Regiment, Indian Army in 1963.[7] Later he participated in Services wrestling in the lightweight class and became the champion of Eastern Command on his very first appearance.[8] But he was firstly recognized in the Indian Army when he fought against international wrestler of Indian Army Pahalwan Uday Chand during services tournament. He was awarded with gold medal in the lightweight in the Services championship in 1965.[9] He stood first in 1966 in his weight class. He was accordingly selected to represent India in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Kingston, Jamaica in 1966.[10] He won a gold medal defeating all wrestlers in his class there, including the famous Pakistani wrestler M. Hussain and Greig of New Zealand. He was obstructed by a knee injury from taking part in the Vth Asian games at Bangkok in 1966.[11]

Singh was promoted to naib subedar on 15 October 1974,[12] and to subedar on 1 June 1980.[13] Promoted to subedar-major on 1 April 1986,[14] he received a promotion to honorary captain in the 1988 Independence Day promotions list.[15]

Achievements and participation
Mukhtiar Singh (left) in Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Olympic games[16]
    • 1968: Mexico Olympic
    • 1972: Munich Olympic
  • World Wrestling Championship
    • 1967: Delhi [India]
    • 1970: Edmonton [Canada]
  • Asian Games[17]
    • 1970: Bangkok, Thailand [Bronze Medal]
    • 1974: Theran, Iran
  • Commonwealth games[18]
    • 1966: Kingston, Jamaica [Gold Medal]
    • 1970: Edinburgh, Scotland [Gold Medal]
  • Hind Kesari
    • 1964: Karnal, Haryana
  • Other international tournaments
    • 1964: Indo-Iran Wrestling Championship, Tehran [Gold Medal]
    • 1964: Indo-Newzealand Wrestling Championship, Newzealand [Gold Medal]
    • 1965: Indo-Iran Wrestling Championship, New Delhi [Gold Medal]
    • 1965: Indo-American Wrestling Championship, Mexico [Gold Medal]
    • 1966: Indo-England Wrestling Championship, England [Gold Medal]
    • 1967: Jasan Meet Wrestling Championship, Kabul Afghanistan [Gold Medal]
    • 1972: Indo-Soviet Wrestling Championship, Moscow Russia [Gold Medal]
    • 1972: Indo-Russian Wrestling Meet, New Delhi [Gold Medal]
    • 1976: Indo-Soviet Wrestling Meet, New Delhi [Gold Medal]
    • 1976: Indo-Pak Wrestling Meet, New Delhi [Gold Medal]

Awards
Awards
  • 1967― Arjun Award
  • 1992― Mewar Award
  • 1986― Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM)
  • 2018― Hon. Sportsperson Award (By C.M Yogi Adityanath)
  • 1996― N.I.S (National Inst. Of Sports, Patiala Punjab)

Judge, coach and referee
Captain Mukhtiar Singh Gymnasium in Indian Army Jat Regiment Centre, Barielly
  • 1991: World Wrestling Championship, Varna, Bulgaria
  • 1996: Asian Wrestling Championship, New Delhi
  • 1997: World Cadet Wrestling Championship, New Delhi
  • 1998: Takhati Cup Wrestling Championship, Iran

Death

Mukhtiar Singh was struck with Alzheimer's disease and he passed away on 19 November 2019.

Capt. Mukhtiar Singh with his wife Surja Devi

References
  1. "Mukhtiar Singh at Olympics". The Official Website of Olympic Games.
  2. Sarangi, Y. B. "CWG Wrestling: A reputation to live up to". Sportstar.
  3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mukhtiar Singh Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  4. "Arjun Award Awarded to Mukhtiar Singh". The Official Website of Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports Of India.
  5. "Biographical information of Muktiar Singh". The Official Website of Olympic Games.
  6. Asit Jolly (30 November 1999). "Haryana's Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt bring glory for the state at Olympics 2012". India Today.
  7. "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army".
  8. "Wrestling Freestyle 74kg - Men Edinburgh 1970 | Commonwealth Games Federation".
  9. "Welterweight, Freestyle (≤74 kilograms), Men". The Official Website of Olympic Games.
  10. "Commonwealth participation Of Mukhtiar Singh". The Official Website of Commonwealth Games India.
  11. "Wrestling Freestyle 68kg - Men Kingston 1966 | Commonwealth Games Federation".
  12. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 April 1975. p. 593.
  13. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 29 November 1980. p. 1354.
  14. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 1986. p. 1451.
  15. "Part I-Section 4 (Extraordinary): Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 August 1988. p. 36.
  16. "Wrestling at the 1968 Mexico Summer Olympic Games". The Official Website of Olympic Games. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010.
  17. "Wrestling at the 1970 Asian Games". The Official Website of Olympic Games.
  18. "Commonwealth participation Of Mukhtiar Singh". The Official Website of Commonwealth Games.
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