Rashid Anwar: Dhakad wrestler, who won India’s first medal in Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games: What we now know as the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2022), started in 1930. At that time it was known as the British Empire Games. For the first time it was held in Ontario, Canada and India did not participate in it. The second British Empire Games took place in London, England. India also participated in this and the country also got the first medal. Wrestler Rashid Anwar won that medal. In Welterweed, he won the Bronze medal by securing the third position.

used to work in railway
Rashid Anwar was born on 12 April 1910. He initially worked in Indian Railways and his posting was in Lucknow. Verified data on his wrestling record is not available, but he is said to have run the national champion in the welterweight category more than 8 times. He also participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. There Rashid had to face defeat in the second round. He participated in many more international tournaments. He also defeated the then champion wrestler Norman Morrell and Billy Riley.

Medal contenders in the 1940 Olympics
Rashid Anwar was considered a strong contender for the medal in the 1940 Olympics, but it could not be organized due to the Second World War. Anwar played the role of an ambulance driver during this war. In 1957 he once again returned to wrestling. In 1959 he defeated Hans Strieger. Rashid Anwar died in London in 1973.

India’s total 503 medals
So far, India has won a total of 102 medals in wrestling in the Commonwealth Games. It has 43 gold, 37 silver and 22 bronze medals. Overall, in the Commonwealth Games, India is at number four in terms of winning medals. Indian elites have won 181 gold, 173 silver and 149 bronze medals.

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