Meet Badshah Khan: J&K’s ‘lone’ wrestler, aspires to become world’s top wrestler

BASHARAT RASHID

Srinagar,Nov 29 : This  young budding talent  from Banihal town  of Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to make a mark  in the game of wrestling with his forte.

Arif Saleem Bohru,(24) popularly known as Badshah Khan , a resident of Neel village in Banihal, the  ‘lone’ wrestler from Jammu & Kashmir  has participated in different wrestling competitions organised throughout the country.

A die-hard fan of top Indian wrestler ,The Great Khali,  Badshah Khan  has won laurels back home ,received several  awards in wrestling.There is no denying  that Khan  rose above everyone’s expectations, enthralled the spectators and won several wrestling championships in different states.

Talking to Arising State on phone, Khan said that he was interested in wrestling, since his childhood, as his father would narrate him wrestling- stories ,when he was growing . This inspired him to build confidence and develop an attitude towards the game.

He said that he would watch wrestling championships on television ,and then  practice the art of wrestling in real life following which he got  admission in ”The Great Khali’s academy”.

”With  hard work and dedication , I managed to get admission in ‘The Great Khali’s academy’, which was a dream come true, as I was highly inspired by The Great Khali,” Khan said, adding that he has learned a lot thereafter.”

Khan has played wrestling in different  states like Punjab, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nepal, Tamil Nadu, and other places,  however he has always felt a need for a proper platform  for wrestlers in J&K.

Khan said that despite being  the lone wrestler of Jammu and Kashmir , and well known among social circles, the local administration has shown least interest in promoting his talent  that speaks itself about the scope of wrestling in J & K .

He further said that he is practicing  to chase his dream of performing in the world’s top wrestling show, known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

He appealed to J&K Govt. to uplift the game of wrestling in Kashmir  so that  aspiring wrestlers  can make a career in this game.