Wrestling has been a popular sport in India since ancient times. In the past, it was mainly practiced to stay strong and physically fit. Traditional Indian wrestlers used to wear a simple piece of cloth called a langota. In ancient times, wrestling was known as Malla-yuddha.
In the great Indian epic Mahabharata, one of the strongest wrestlers was Bhima. Other famous wrestlers mentioned in the story include Karna, Jarasandha, Kichaka, and Balarama. Similarly, in the Ramayana, Hanuman is described as a powerful wrestler.
During the rule of the Mughal Empire, wrestling in India was influenced by Iranian and Mongolian styles. This led to the creation of a new wrestling style called Pehlwani, which is still popular in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh today.