Earlier in July 2025, 16-year-old Hardeep Chhillar etched his name in history by becoming India’s first-ever U17 world wrestling champion in the men’s 110 kg Greco-Roman category.

While young Hardeep’s achievement is fantastic in itself, what makes his win all the more impressive is his story of adversity, grit and ambition.

A tough childhood

Tragedy struck Hardeep’s life early when he lost both his parents in a road accident. He was only five years old. Since then, his uncle, Jasbir Singh, has been the anchor in his life. Despite having two daughters and a son of his own, Singh made countless sacrifices to ensure all the children, including Hardeep and his brother Sameer, were always cared for.

“We didn’t have enough funds. I had two pieces of land measuring around 9,000 square yards. I sold both last year to make sure their training is not hampered,” Jasbir said.

Humble beginnings

Hardeep’s victory not only marks India’s first-ever world title in the heavyweight Greco-Roman category at the U17 level, but also puts a new spotlight on Haryana’s Mandothi village, long associated with a violent past rooted in wrestler-gangster culture. Having put the tiny hamlet on the map, there is hope that Hardeep’s success will spur a stronger culture of merit-driven wrestling and sport in the area. The young champion lives and trains at the Sonu Akhada in Mandothi under Arjuna Awardee coach, Dharmendra Dalal.

A legacy of wrestling

Coming from a lineage of wrestlers – his father and grandfather were both wrestlers – it is clear that the sport runs in his blood. “Dadaji said ‘Akhade mein rehna hai’,” Hardeep recalled, adding “Coach told me, ‘Desh ke liye gold leke aana hai, silver aur bronze to bahut la chuke’ (Win gold for the country, a lot of wrestlers have won silver and bronze).” Buoyed by his coach, Hardeep did not disappoint.

Blazing a new trail

This is not Hardeep’s first international victory. He has already won 3 international medals in Greco-Roman, including a gold at the 2025 Asian U17 Championship in Vietnam earlier this year. He also has a freestyle gold at the national level. Hardeep feels his triumph in Greece will inspire Greco-Roman wrestlers to believe in themselves like the Indian freestyle wrestlers who have consistently reached the top.

“Young wrestlers will believe it (winning medals) is possible. The next generation will learn,” Hardeep said. While the country’s wrestling fraternity might acknowledge his achievement, at this very moment of joy, young Hardeep misses his parents. “His parents would be so proud of him if they were here today,” his Greco-Roman wrestling coach, Gurpreet Singh said, echoing Hardeep’s feelings. As for the 16-year-old, all he wants to do now is bring the medal back home. “I will make my uncle wear this medal,” Hardeep said in a sombre tone.

While Hardeep Chhillar is still very young and has much to prove at the senior level, it is inspiring to see such young Indian athletes overcoming their circumstances and paving the way for more young wrestlers to reach for the top in world sport.

If an orphaned 16-year-old from a tiny village in Haryana can become a world-beater, there’s nothing that can stop us or our children from aspiring to be the very best in the world.

If you would like to help your child tap into the same resilience & determination as Hardeep Chhillar, call us on 9819337766 or 9819227766..

P.S. Please watch the video below that beautifully captures how there is nothing quite like the love between a parent and a child 🙂