Wrestling has been an integral part of India’s sporting tradition, with young enthusiasts showcasing their skills in ‘Akhadas’. Indian wrestlers have updated their skills with the development of wrestling as a modern sport and Jammu and Kashmir is no exception. Arif Saleem Bohru has emerged as the first professional wrestler from Jammu and Kashmir and is better known by his ring name ‘Badshah Khan’. Arif was born and brought up in the remote village of Neel in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. Arif got inspired towards wrestling because his father used to tell him about the famous wrestler ‘The Great Khali’.
Khali’s achievements lit a spark in Asif and he decided to pursue wrestling as his profession. Determined to pursue his dreams, Arif enrolled in The Great Khali’s wrestling academy in Jalandhar. This was the first step towards his goal. Asif continued to show dedication and his hard work caught the attention of his coaches. It didn’t take long for him to earn praise from Khali, who nicknamed him ‘Badshah Khan’.
At the age of 20, Arif stepped into the ring and his hard work started paying off. His passion for the sport and success rate of 85 per cent in over 300 matches has made him an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the region. He is counted among the top five professional wrestlers in India.
The road to Arif’s destination was not an easy one. He started participating in small wrestling competitions and gradually his confidence grew. He honed his skills by training with professional wrestlers. Social media has also played an important role in Arif’s success. His wrestling videos went viral, after which a large number of people joined him.
Arif Salim Bohru (24), better known as Badshah Khan, a #Wrestler from the remote village of #Ramban #Jammu and Kashmir He has not only made his parents proud but the entire UT as he is all set to make his debut in World Wrestling Entertainment.#WWE), after many years of struggle. pic.twitter.com/tb6WCMIiyr— Shah Imtiyaz (@ShahImtiyaz90) October 30, 2020
When asked about his mission as a wrestler, Arif said that he is fearless in the ring. “When I am inside the ring, I feel like a king. I am not afraid of anyone inside that ring because I showcase the real power of Kashmir and India. My aim is to represent India and Kashmir around the world. To do.”
Competing at the top level requires effort and consistency. Arif’s training schedule includes six hours of workouts and four hours of wrestling.
“I dreamed of becoming a wrestler since I was a teenager. I have worked tirelessly to reach where I am today. Now that I have achieved this, I don’t want to let it go in vain. My wrestling To maintain my skills and continue to win, I learn and train every day,” he said. Arif’s ultimate goal is to compete in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and win the title of World Champion. He expects some financial support from the Jammu and Kashmir government in his sporting endeavours. He stresses on the role of sports in leading a healthy lifestyle and has been urging the youth to stay away from drugs.