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