Pehlwani

Traditional Indian and Pakistani wrestling on a clay pit — pin any part of an opponent's back to win.

👥1 per team🌤outdoor

What is Pehlwani?

Pehlwani (also called kushti) is the traditional wrestling of the Indian subcontinent, contested in a clay-and-oil pit (akhara). Wrestlers train in communal gyms with disciplined diet and daily conditioning. A bout ends the instant any part of the opponent's back or shoulders is pinned to the earth.

Quick facts

Category

Combat Sports

Type

Individual

Players

1 per team

Where played

outdoor

Country of origin

🇮🇳 India

Estimated origin

Mughal-era South Asia (~16th century)

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-20.verified