Mandi’s 16-Year-Old Shauryaveer Yadav Wins Bronze at Asian Kurash Championship in South Korea

Sundernagar, August 4:
Shauryaveer Yadav, a 16-year-old from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, has etched his name in the state’s sporting history by winning a bronze medal at the Asian Kurash Championship 2025, held in South Korea. With this feat, he becomes the first athlete from Himachal Pradesh to win a medal at this prestigious continental event.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that it marks the first time both a player and a coach from Himachal have participated together in an Asian Championship and returned with a medal.

Shauryaveer secured the bronze in the 90 kg boys’ category, competing fiercely against athletes from 25 countries. His coach, Virender Dhaulata, who also accompanied the Indian Kurash team as national coach, is himself a Commonwealth Judo medalist. Dhaulata praised his student’s determination, stating that despite battling an injury, Shauryaveer’s relentless hard work and mental strength earned him the podium finish.

Shauryaveer hails from a family deeply rooted in sports. His father, Dr. Sanjay Yadav, is an international-level athlete and a recipient of the Parashuram Award, while his uncle, Jagdish Pehalwan, has won numerous prestigious wrestling titles, including Himachal Kesari.

Before this international success, Shauryaveer had already proved his mettle at the national level — winning a silver medal at the Junior National Kurash Championship and a bronze in wrestling at the National School Games.

The Himachal Pradesh Kurash Association congratulated both Shauryaveer and Coach Virender Dhaulata on this outstanding achievement, expressing confidence that they will continue to bring laurels to the state and the nation in the future.