Dara Singh

Dara Singh (19 November 1928 – 12 July 2012) was an Indian professional wrestler, actor and politician. He started acting in 1952 and was the first sportsman to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha (upper house) of India. He worked as Hindi and Punjabi film producer, director and writer, and he acted in films and television. He is known for his role of Hanuman in film Bajrangi (1976) and in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan.

Career
As an adult he was 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, weighed 127 kilograms (280 lb) and had a chest measurement of 53 inches (130 cm). Due to his physique, he was encouraged to take up pehlwani, an Indian style of wrestling. After switching to professional wrestling, he competed around the world with opponents such as Bill Verna, Firpo Zbyszko, John Da Silva, Rikidōzan, Danny Lynch and Ski Hi Lee etc., his act of flooring King Kong is always remembered. In 1954 Dara competed in the Rustam-e-Hind (Champion of India) tournament where he won the final by defeating Tiger Joginder Singh and received a silver cup from Maharaja Hari Singh. In 1959, he won the Commonwealth Championship by defeating George Gordienko at Calcutta. On 29 May 1968 in Bombay, his victory over Lou Thesz earned him the World championship. His last tournament, where he announced his retirement, was held in Delhi in June 1983. In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

Wrestling facts

 * Finishing and signature moves
 * Airplane spin
 * Indian deathlock
 * Knee drop
 * Body slam
 * Ankle lock
 * Flying tackle
 * Cobra hold
 * Boston crab
 * Mounted punches
 * Headscissors
 * Double axe handle
 * Forearm club
 * Side headlock
 * Knee lift


 * Nicknames
 * "Rustam-e-Hind"
 * "Indian He-Man"

Championships and accomplishments

 * World Wide Wrestling Association
 * WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
 * Maple Leaf Wrestling
 * NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time)- with Yukon Eric
 * Commonwealth Championship
 * World Wrestling Championship
 * Champion of Malaysia (1951)
 * Rustam-e-Hind (1954)
 * Rustam-e-Punjab (1966)
 * Wrestling Observer Newsletter
 * Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)


 * World Wrestling Entertainment
 * WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2018)