Sikandar Shaikh, a talented wrestler from Maharashtra, has found a strong supporter in the Punit Balan Group (PBG) in his quest to attain glory for India in international tournaments. The 24-year-old wrestler, who is the reigning Maharashtra Kesari and won the U-23 Nationals gold medal back in 2019, is now focused on breaking into the Indian team for international tournaments with an eye on the 2026 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Originally hailing from Solapur, Sikandar comes from a family of wrestlers and both his father and grandfather were accomplished wrestlers. Sikandar began wrestling at the age of 14 and has been training at the Gandwish Talim in Kolhapur. His journey so far has been marked by hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
How Punit Balan Group will support Sikandar Shaikh?
The Punit Balan Group, recognizing Sikandar’s talent and potential, has extended its support to him. The group will initially support Sikandar with ₹15 lakh per year for the next three years, bearing his training and other expenses. This financial support will help Sikandar get quality training support and also fund his travel to competitions.
Speaking about the decision to support Sikandar, Chairman and Managing Director of PBG, Punit Balan said, “Wrestling is an extremely popular sport in Maharashtra and has given the country numerous international stars including independent India’s first individual Olympics medallist in Khashaba Jadhav. Punit Balan Group is committed to providing much-needed support to Indian athletes, helping them grow in their careers and bringing medals to the country. Sikandar Shaikh is a very talented wrestler who has the potential to win medals for India in major international tournaments and I am confident that with this support he can achieve all his dreams.”
Punit Balan Group’s commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and growth is aligned perfectly with the world of philanthropy and sports. The group has been supporting close to 60 talented athletes across sports including tennis player Rutuja Bhosale, para-badminton star Arati Patil, cricketer Ankit Bawne and rising archer Vaishnavi Pawar among many others.
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 in his quest to attain glory for India in international tournaments. The 24-year-old wrestler, who is the reigning Maharashtra Kesari and won the U-23 Nationals gold medal back in 2019){kind=link}