Lila Ram Sangwan was an Indian wrestler from Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, who was the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.
11 Facts About Lila Ram
1.
2.
Lila Ram won a gold medal in the heavyweight category in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
3.
Lila Ram competed in the freestyle wrestling in heavyweight and superheavyweight categories at the national as well as international level.
4.
Lila Ram was on 30 November 1930, in Mandola village of Charkhi Dadri district in a farmer's family.
5.
Lila Ram reigned as the national heavyweight champion in the late 50s and early 60s.
6.
Lila Ram was the captain of the wrestling team, which participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
7.
Lila Ram was the chief coach of the Indian wrestling team which participated in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City and the World Wrestling Championships held in Delhi.
8.
Lila Ram's remained as a coach of the Services team till 1973.
9.
Lila Ram served the Sports Department of the Government of Haryana as Assistant Director of Sports from 1980 to 1988.
10.
Lila Ram died on 11 October 2003 in Charkhi Dadri in Bhiwani district.
11.
In 1998, Lila Ram was awarded the Padma Shri in recognition of his contributions to sports.