Obituary; Olympian Wrestler Prem Nath passes away
Flamboyant former Olympian wrestler, manager, referee, and an excellent administrator Prem Nath died on June 1, 2015 at the age of 64 from a sudden heart failure.
Born on 1 July, 1951 in Delhi. He came to limelight
in 1969 National School Games where he won gold medal and repeated the
accomplishment in 1970 National School Games. He won gold medal in the All
India Inter - University Wrestling Championship (1971). Represented Indian
University team in Moscow World
University Game (Universiade) in 1970. National Champion in Bantomweight in
1972 in Varanasi. He was selected to represent India in the World Wrestling
Championship in Tokyo. He accomplished sixth place there. He afterwards
participated in 1972 Munich Olympic Games (Germany) where he was placed fourth
in Bantomweight. He gave the outstanding performance of his international
career by wining gold medal in Bantomweight in the 10th Commonwealth Games at
Christchurch (New Zealand) in 1974.
A qualified coach passed National Institute
of sports, Diploma in 1980 -81. He also attended coaching camp in USA, Canada
and Russia. Prem Nath coached the Indian team that won 6 gold medals and a
silver medal in the Pakistan National Games in Peshawar in 1981. He coached the
Indian team for the IX Asian Games, 1982 in Delhi. He was manager of the Indian
wrestling team that won team championship in the 1989 Commonwealth Championship
in Malta. He went as a referee to the World Wrestling Championship in Hungary
and International Wrestling Tournament in Iran. Prem Nath took over an akhara which was established Guru
Baijnath in 1948 in Gur Mandi, near Kamla Nagar in Delhi in 1976 and run it for
prolonged time before handing over to his younger son Vikram Kumar. At present known
as Guru Prem Nath akhara.
Prem Nath was of the jewels from the akhara of legendary Guru Hanuman. Prem
Nath studied at Hansraj College (University of Delhi). He was also patronized
by late Kanwar Mangal Singh, Director of Physical Education, Hansraj College.
He retired from Delhi Police as an
Assistant commissioner of Police in Delhi. He was the Officer on Special Duty
(Wrestling) in the IX Asian Games 1982 in Delhi. He was the Honorary Treasurer
of Wrestling Federation of India.
He was recipient of string of prestigious
award including coveted the President Police Medal in 1994. In 1972, Arjuna
Award was bestowed on him. Prem Nath is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Suresh Kumar Lau
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