A private trust offers the international player funds worth Rs 50 lakh for the facility; the deputy and joint charity commissioners link him to success
Pankration wrestler Sudhir Hanumant Pundekar (29) claims he has not only fought in the ring but has tussled with life that often threw multiple hurdles on the path to success. From painstakingly piecing funds to do without the supplementary facilities to train, he has survived it all gloriously. This Phaltan resident, who comes from a modest farmer’s family, has represented India in several international competitions. While he struggled to continue the sport, he also harboured an ambition — to build a sports complex in his village, Mulikwadi, for the youth. This ambition will now be funded by a private trust that is set to provide Rs 50 lakh for the cause.
He credits the deputy charity commissioner and the joint charity commissioner for the change in fortunes. Pundekar claims that these officials have also seen him through tough times before the funding arrived. “I have not just wrestled in the ring but also real life. After my father passed away in 2016, I had to choose between my work and wrestling. I decided to balance it out. However, the problems for my family escalated by the day,” Pundekar said.