West Bengal Wrestling Association was initially formed as West Bengal Wrestling Federation in the year 1948. Its first president was Sachindranath Bandhopadhay – Register, High Court, and it’s first Honourable General Secretary was Sudhir Saha. Before the year 1948, all state associations were under the umbrella of Bengal Olympic Association.
Prior to 1947, the following professional wrestlers made the state proud:
Famous Bengali personalities who wrestled
President’s of West Bengal Wrestling Association
General Secretaries of West Bengal Wrestling Association
Coaches of West Bengal Wrestling Association
West Bengal produced a number of Olympians and National Champions during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Unfortunately, due to World War II, a number of wrestlers were not able to participate in the Olympic Games. The Olympic training camp for 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games was held at the Panchanan Bayam Samity under the guidance of Sudhir Saha, Sushil Saha, and G Misra. India’s first individual medal winner K.D. Jaghav attended both camps and was placed 6th in the 1948 Olympic Games and 3rd in the 1952 Olympic Games.
Bengal’s own:
It is also to be noted that Greco-Roman wrestling started in India in Kolkata in the year 1964 under the guidance of Sudhir Saha. The first Greco-Roman wrestling match was held at the house of Jamindar Manmathanath Ghosh in Pathuriaghata Street. In the year 1965 at Kolhapur, Greco – Roman wrestling competition was first held at the National level.
The West Bengal Wrestling Association also organized a bilateral competition with the Bangladesh National team in the year 2008 and 2012 in Kolkata and Barasat respectively. In the year 2009, the competition was held in Dhaka.
The West Bengal Wrestling Association organized the All India School Games – Wrestling in the 80’s at Salt Lake.
The West Bengal Wrestling Association organized the 3rd South Asian Federation Games – Wrestling at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in 1987.
The West Bengal Wrestling Association also organized the Senior National Wrestling Championship in Kolkata after a gap of 73 years in 2013.