Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Biography: Early Life, Career & Personal Life

Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Biography
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan is a well known wrestler from India. He belongs to Maharashtra and has become famous for his success in traditional kushti wrestling. Many people want to know who is Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan because his life shows the power of hard work and discipline. Kushti is an old Indian sport. Wrestlers train in mud pits called akharas. They build strong bodies and strong minds through daily practice. Sikandar started from a simple village life. He faced money problems and hard days. Yet he rose to win big titles. In 2023 and 2024 he won the Maharashtra Kesari title. Then in November 2024 he won the Rustam e Hind Kesari title. This made him only the fourth wrestler from Maharashtra to achieve that honor. He also serves in the Indian Army as a subedar in the Dogra Regiment. His story teaches young people that consistency and respect for tradition can lead to great success. This article explains his journey in easy words. You will learn about his early life, career moves, big wins, personal side, and useful lessons. The goal is to educate readers about kushti wrestling and inspire anyone who wants to improve their life through sports and discipline.
Kushti wrestling has a long history in India. It dates back hundreds of years. Legends like Gama Pehlwan showed the world its power. Today wrestlers like Sikandar keep that tradition alive. They wake up early, eat special food, and train hard. Sikandar weighs around 125 kilograms and fights in that category. His wins have brought pride to Solapur district and all of Maharashtra. People also ask questions like how he started or what his daily routine looks like.
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Early Life
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan was born around the year 2000 in Mohol village of Solapur district in Maharashtra. He grew up in a family that loved wrestling. His father Rashid Shaikh and his grandfather were pehlwans too. They taught him the basics of kushti from a young age. Life was not easy for the family. His father worked as a porter to earn money. There were days when the family had only one meal. Sikandar sometimes skipped school to help with work. These tough times taught him the meaning of hard work.
By the time he reached his early teens Sikandar began serious training. Sources from February 2025 report that he joined the Gandwish Talim in Kolhapur after finishing 10th standard. Coaches Chandrakant Kale and Vishwas Hargule guided him there. They helped him move from local matches to bigger competitions. His family tradition gave him a strong base. Grandfather and father had competed in village dangals. They passed on values like respect for elders and control over desires. Sikandar has said in interviews that financial issues forced him to join his father for porter jobs at times. Yet he never gave up wrestling.
Village life in Mohol shaped his character. Solapur district has a rich history of kushti. Many young boys train in mud akharas there. Sikandar chose this path over modern comforts. He learned to wake up before sunrise and follow strict rules. This early training built his body and mind. He moved up weight categories over time. At first he fought in lower groups. Later he reached the 125 kilogram open category. His story from a small village to state champion inspires many rural youth. It shows that family support and daily effort can overcome money shortages. Readers can learn from this that starting small with full dedication leads to big results. Kushti is more than a sport here. It is a way of life that builds humility and strength.
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Career
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan joined the Indian Army through the sports quota. He serves as a subedar in the Dogra Regiment. The army life added discipline to his kushti training. Military routines matched the akhara schedule very well. He continued wrestling while doing his duty. This balance helped him improve fast. In 2019 he won gold at the Under 23 National Championships. This was an important early success.
After that he trained at the Shri Shahu Vijayi Gangavesh Talim in Kolhapur. The coaches there refined his style. He developed a quick move called the Sikandar pattern. It includes a strong ekchak and lapet technique. In 2022 he started competing in North India dangals. He won against top wrestlers from Punjab and Haryana. The Punit Balan Group noticed his talent. They began supporting him with money and training help in 2024. This sponsorship lasted three years and aimed at international goals.
His career took him to Mohali in Punjab for advanced training. He spent six months there under coach Golu Pehlwan before big events. On October 24 2025 Mohali police arrested Sikandar Shaikh along with three other men in an illegal arms case. They recovered five pistols and some cash during the operation. Police linked the case to an interstate supply network. Sikandar was in Mohali for training ahead of the Hind Kesari tournament. His family and coach said he was focused only on wrestling. They claimed he had no prior criminal record and believed the case was a mistake. Reports from November 2025 noted that political leaders from Maharashtra reached out to Punjab officials about the matter. Investigations continued at that time. This event happened while he was preparing for more titles. It showed the pressures wrestlers sometimes face. Yet Sikandar stayed committed to kushti. His army background and akhara training kept him strong through challenges.
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Achievements
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan has many important wins in his career. In 2019 he earned the gold medal at the Under 23 National Wrestling Championships. This win put him on the national map. Then in the 2023 24 season he became Maharashtra Kesari. He defeated Shivraj Rakshe in the final. This made him the 66th wrestler to hold the title. The Maharashtra Kesari is one of the biggest honors in state kushti. Winners get huge respect and prizes.
In November 2024 Sikandar won the Rustam e Hind Kesari title in Jandla village of Punjab. He beat strong rivals like Bagga Kohli in the final. This victory made him only the fourth pehlwan from Maharashtra to lift that mace. Past winners from the state were Harishchandra Birajdar, Amol Buchade, and Asab Ahmad. North Indian wrestlers had dominated the event for years. Sikandar changed that story. He also received a tractor and cash prizes for the win. Reports from that time noted victories against wrestlers from Georgia and Iran too. These international wins added to his record.
He has won senior national level medals as well. His success in dangals across Punjab and Haryana brought him fame. He earned cars, bikes, and other gifts from many tournaments. The Punit Balan Group support helped him aim for the 2026 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Sikandar has said his goal is to represent India at the Olympics one day. Each achievement shows years of daily practice. Kushti teaches that one win comes from thousands of hours in the akhara. Young readers can see how titles like Maharashtra Kesari open doors for sponsorships and bigger dreams. His record proves that consistent effort beats talent alone. These wins bring pride to Maharashtra and encourage more youth to join traditional wrestling.
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan Personal Life
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan lives a simple life focused on family and training. His father Rashid Shaikh remains his biggest support. After winning the Maharashtra Kesari title a video went viral. In it Sikandar lifted his crying father on his shoulders. This moment showed their close bond. The family stays in Mohol village. They share the joy of every success together.
Sikandar follows a humble lifestyle. He avoids luxury and sticks to pehlwan rules. His Instagram account has many followers who watch his training videos. He shares messages about discipline. One key idea he repeats is that kushti is a metaphor for life. It teaches people to stay humble in victory and strong in tough times. He urges young fans to choose the akhara over bad habits or too much screen time.
He has spoken about the importance of rest and family time between training sessions. His mother and other relatives also cheer for him at events. Personal life for a pehlwan means balance. Sikandar manages army duties, family visits, and wrestling camps. This balance keeps him grounded. Readers learn that success comes with strong family roots. His story reminds everyone that even champions need love and support from home.
Conclusion
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan has shown the true spirit of kushti wrestling. From a small village in Solapur to national titles he proved that hard work wins. His wins in 2019, 2023, 2024 and training routines offer real lessons. Young people can copy his early wake up time and strict diet to build better habits. Kushti builds not just muscles but character too. It teaches respect, patience, and control.
Even after challenges in 2025 he kept his focus on future goals like the Asian Games. Sponsors and coaches helped along the way. His army service added extra strength. The story of Sikandar adds value for everyone. It encourages rural youth to follow traditional sports. It also reminds search engines and readers about the rich culture of Indian wrestling. Anyone can take small steps today. Start with simple exercise and good food. Stay consistent like Sikandar. His journey from porter jobs to champion mace proves dreams come true with discipline. Let his example guide you toward a stronger and more focused life.
FAQs
Who is Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan is an Indian kushti wrestler from Mohol village in Solapur district of Maharashtra. He was born around 2000 and is about 25 or 26 years old as of 2025. He serves in the Indian Army Dogra Regiment. He became famous after winning the Maharashtra Kesari title in the 2023 24 season and the Rustam e Hind title in 2024. He trains in traditional akharas and follows a strict pehlwan lifestyle. Many people search his name to learn about his inspiring rise from humble beginnings.
Where is Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan from?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan comes from Mohol village in Solapur district of Maharashtra. This rural area has a long tradition of kushti wrestling. His family has lived there for generations. He started his early training in local akharas before moving to Kolhapur for advanced coaching. Solapur remains his home base even after national success.
What are the major achievements of Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan won the Under 23 National Gold Medal in 2019. He became Maharashtra Kesari in the 2023 24 season by defeating top state rivals. In November 2024 he won the Rustam e Hind Kesari title in Punjab. This made him the fourth wrestler from Maharashtra to claim that honor. He has also beaten international wrestlers from Georgia and Iran. These wins brought him prizes like tractors and cash. His record shows steady progress through dedicated training.
How did Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan start wrestling?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan started wrestling as a child in his village akhara. His father and grandfather were pehlwans so they taught him the basics. Due to family money issues he helped with porter work but kept practicing. After 10th standard he joined the Gandwish Talim in Kolhapur. Coaches there helped him grow. He began serious competitions around age 14. His family tradition and village mud pits gave him the first steps.
What is Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan training routine and diet?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan wakes up at 3.30 in the morning. He does two long training sessions each day. The first runs from 4.30 to 8 in the morning. The second goes from 3.30 to 7 in the evening. He completes 1000 sapatya burpees without stopping. His diet includes 1.5 litres of milk and 2 litres of almond thandai every day. Meals contain 250 grams of ghee. He avoids sweets like gulab jamun to stay focused. This routine comes from reports in February 2025. It shows the discipline needed for kushti success.
Is Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan married?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan keeps his personal family details private in most interviews. He shares a close bond with his father and mother. A viral video after his Maharashtra Kesari win showed him lifting his father in joy. He focuses on wrestling and army duties. Any personal updates come through his official social media.
What happened in the 2025 arrest case of Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan?
On October 24 2025 Mohali police arrested Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan in an illegal arms case. They caught him with three other men and recovered five pistols plus cash. He was in Mohali for training with coach Golu Pehlwan. His family said he was framed and had no criminal background. Reports from November 2025 noted that Maharashtra leaders contacted Punjab officials about the matter. Investigations were ongoing at that time. This event took place while he prepared for more tournaments.
What are Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan future goals?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan aims to compete in the 2026 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. He wants to win medals for India at international events. His long term dream is to reach the Olympics. With support from the Punit Balan Group he continues hard training. He hopes to inspire more youth in Maharashtra to take up kushti.
How much does Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan earn?
Sikandar Shaikh Pehlwan earns through wrestling prizes and army salary. Dangal wins bring cars bikes and cash awards. His Rustam e Hind victory in 2024 included a tractor and money. The Punit Balan Group sponsorship adds.



