Aslam Pahalwan
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The world-renowned Aslam Pahalwan born 1930 in Amritsar) was a wrestler from Punjab, belonging to a legendary wrestling family of northwestern India. He was a pehlwan of the 1950s and '60s that mostly participated in challenge-wrestling events in Asian countries. He never lost a professional fight, excelled in Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling, and was the champion of Punjab. He was a member of the wrestling group, the illustrious Bholu Brothers of Lahore, and was recognized as the world champion within the Pakistani community.
At 6'2" and 300 pounds, his wrestling career encompasses many challenge matches with world-class professionals and some 300 major wrestling brawls during the 1950s. He is famous for defeating some of the best men in wrestling. Some of his opponents include Younus Gujranwalia, Tarlok Singh, Sheik Wadi Ayoub, Basco Bo, Sitting Bull, Bert Assirati, Tiger Ray Holden, Bloorma, George Pencheff, Ron Harrison, George Zbisko, Zbisko-2, Baron von Heczey, King Kong (Czaja), Lofty Binnie, Tiger Joginder, Tiger Sucha Singh, George Gordienko, and Paul Vachon.
[edit] Profile
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 300 lbs
- Birthday: 1930
- Hometown: Amritsar, Punjab, India
- Trained by: Hamida Pahalwan, the Great Gama
- Debut:
- Previous identities: Acha, Lion of Punjab, Sher-e-Pakistan, Aslam Pahalwan, Uncrowned King of Wrestling World.
- Finishing and signature move(s): Bostan Crab.
[edit] Career
Aslam is the son of Indian wrestling legend Imam Baksh, and is the nephew of the Great Gama of India. He belongs to the subsequent generation of Pahalwan’s of Kashmiri origin that have wrestled in South Asia for centuries before the Indian partition. He started wrestling as the pupil of Hamida Pahalwan and the Great Gama of India. Aslam is one of the unbeatable wrestlers that the art of traditional wrestling produced when it flourished in India during the past.
His exercise routine was similar to that of his elder brother Bholu Pahalwan. He trained twice a day, relying mostly on basic pahalwani exercises, such as thousands of dands and baithaks (bodyweight exercises), or other ancient workouts like nals (stone weights) and joris (heavy clubs) to increase strength, stamina and flexibility. A high-calorie and nutritious diet was a must to sustain his bodyweight after a tough workout. He usually consumed an entire goat during a single meal.
Aslam started wrestling during 1940s. He commenced his career by participating in tournaments held mostly in the Punjab, but he also competed in games held in other parts of India. His first wrestling match was in Amritsar against Bala Pahalwan of India. He defeated his opponent in only ninety seconds. In another important test of his career Aslam defeated Niranjan Singh in Patiala in less then two minutes. During the pre-partition days, the Maharaja of Patiala used to sponsor a wrestling championship in his princely state each year, during the Islamic month of Moharram. During one such tournament Aslam defeated a wrestler known as Puran Singh, in a final showdown. He was rewarded a sum of ten thousand rupees by the Maharaja Bhopindar Singh for his success. He later moved into the limelight by beating Kala Pahalwan and Aslam Mohni Wala in the city of Lahore.
After the Indian Partition, Aslam got stationed in Lahore, Pakistan. He mostly confronted the best wrestlers of Pakistani Punjab. In one of the most exciting matches of his career, Aslam defeated the highly-skilled Younus Gujranwalia after nine minutes of spectacular wrestling for the Punjab Championship in Lahore. He was officially declared Rustam-i-Punjab (ie. Champion of Punjab) in Minto Park, Lahore. After becoming the champion of Punjab, he wrestled and defeated a number of bona fide wrestlers, like the 1939 IWA World Champion, George Pencheff, who were operating throughout India during early 1950s. The exact record of Aslam Pahalwan’s wrestling bouts has not been arranged yet. However, in 1953, overshadowed by his elder brother Bholu, Aslam issued challenges to wrestlers all over the world to compete against him, and announced a reward of 100,000 rupees to any wrestler who could beat him. In a challenge match, Aslam defeated the famed Indian wrestler Tarlok Singh at the National Stadium in Karachi in the second round. In another challenge match, Aslam defeated the European Heavyweight Champion, and former World Champion, Bert Assirati in Bombay, India on June 3, 1954, within six minutes by slamming him unconscious in front of the 40,000 in attendance. Assirati was the strongest man in wrestling at the time of this match. An Indian entrepreneur rewarded Aslam with a sum of ten thousand rupees on his victory.
During the 50s, Aslam faced all challengers with a great deal of success. In 1957, he travelled to the Far East. In Singapore, Aslam announced a one hundred thousand dollar reward for any wrestler who could beat him. In response to his challenge, he confronted twenty to thirty different wrestlers from around the world, and defeated them all. Even a number of significant wrestlers, like King Kong and Shaikh Wadi Ayub, failed to beat him. Aslam later defeated Tiger Sucha Singh and Joginder Singh at the National Stadium in Karachi in a challenge match. In May 1962 he defeated King Kong Czaja (the largest attraction in the history of wrestling) and Lofty Binnie of New Zealand in Karachi.
During the early 60s, he wrestled in India and Pakistan simultaneously, and defeated the native American Sitting Bull and Sheik Wadi Ayub (the All Asian Champion from Lebanon). In 1967 he toured European countries and visited the United Kingdom with his other Bholu Brothers. This was a historic wrestling event sponsored by British promoter Orig Williams. Aslam visited the leading arenas of the North, Midlands and Scotland, defeating all opponents. On his return home he was awarded the President's Award of Pride of Performance. [1].
Aslam gave up wrestling during the early 1970s. His career spanned almost three decades. He was a man of faith and mostly faced challenges. Frequently commencing a match with a vicious yell and a vibrant charge towards the ring before clashing with his opponent, he generally used a combination of hand blows, Flying Kicks, head butts and submission maneuvers like the Boston Crab to subdue his opponents. Aslam is best remembered as the uncrowned World Champion.
