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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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