Khashaba Jadhav wins independent India’s first Olympic medal
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Maharashtra-born wrestler Khashabha Jadhav represented India at the Olympics in the wake of Indian independence, only a handful of years after the British had ceased occupation of the country.
Jadhav had been involved in the Quit India movement, India’s civil disobedience movement against British occupation, prior to participating in the Olympics, and was an active freedom frighter.
He then participated in the London Olympics of 1948, barely a whole year after India’s independence, and there finished in 6th in his weight category, despite not having trained with any Olympic equipment or under tournament regulations before. It was the highest Olympic finish by an Indian at the time although Jadhav had missed out on a medal.
Jadhav’s road to the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, was an arduous one. After alleging nepotism by the authorities, the wrestler was forced to ask others to intercede on his behalf to enable him to participate.
Despite truncated training, a lack of proper equipment and time to prepare, Jadhav participated in the 1952 Olympics and won bronze – the first ever Olympic medal for independent India.
