8th– 16th 17th– 18th

Kushti is influenced by elements of Mongolian wrestling. In the 16th century, the creation of the Mughal Empire merges practices from Persian wrestling to produce modern kushti, where biting, punching and kicking are not allowed. Kushti enters its golden era, with wrestlers revered across the subcontinent and tournaments attracting crowds and powerful people. By the late 18th century, the colonisation of India brings about a decline of traditional kushti, which colonial parties see as a barbaric form of fighting.

Divya Kakran will attempt to become the first female Indian kushti fighter to earn a medal at the Olympics in Tokyo