The roots of the Hargobind Wrestling club can be traced back
to the small town of Williams Lake BC. It was 1986 when former wrestler Satnam
Johal introduced his nephew Randeep (Ravi) Sodhi to the sport of
wrestling. New business ventures ultimately led Johal to leave Williams Lake
and make the move to Surrey BC. Kulwant Nijjar a former wrestler and training
partner of Satnam's continued with the coaching duties.
Upon his arrival in the lower mainland Satnam invited Randeep to make the move from Williams Lake and he made plans for a training facility within the garage of his own home. This spartan wrestling facility became the place of daily training sessions. What started as a family club soon attracted wrestling enthusiasts from around the community. Jasvir (Fateh) Singh an accomplished wrestler from India came on board and shared the coaching duties with an Olympian from Afghanistan, Mohammad Qayum. It was 1992 when the "Hargobind Wrestling Club" was officially named by Bikar Singh Parhar.
The 1993 season proved to be a positive one for Hargoind Wrestling. The club was relocated to Johals new residence in the country side, creating the perfect environment for the wrestlers. Later that year, Randeep Sodhi became the clubs first ever provincial champion and capped off the year with a Canada Summer Games bronze medal. The summer of 1993 saw the addition of a 2 time Olympian, Nazir Lal. After winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Championships in Victoria BC, Nazir decided not to return to his war torn country, instead he applied to make Canada his new home.
Lal and Sodhi joined the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club. Training at Burnaby Mountain the athletes were able to practice with some of the countries top senior wrestlers. The Hargobind program soon became a springboard for athletes to develop their wrestling abilites and to move on to the National training center at Burnaby Mountain.
The 1994 season began with silver medal for Randeep at the Canadian Nationals in the Espoir (under 21) division. That summer the Commonwealth Games brought Nigerian wrestler Daniel Igali to Canada. It was at Burnaby mountain that Igali made contact with Randeep and Nasir and all three wrestlers became roommates at Johal's residence.
By the Summer of 1995 Hargobind Wrestling had grown to a collection of 15 athletes. Jas Sanghera and Am Hayre, Satnams youngest nephew became members of the club.
At 1996 Nationals championships Nasir Lal wrestled a memorable and hard fought double overtime match against defending world silver medalist Gia Sissouri. Gia claimed the gold and Lal the silver.While Sodhi, Lal And Igali were focused on making Canada's senior national team, Am Hayre was was doing his share of winning as well, winning a provincial championship in 1997. Nasir Lal capped off 1997 with a National title while Igali took the bronze and Sodhi finish second in Greco.
The following year Sodhi and Lal would both medal at the nationals and Daniel Igali ended up with a confidence building fourth place finish at the World championships. This was only a gimpse of what we would see in 1999 and 2000.Coming off a knee surgery just weeks before the 99 Worlds , Igali went on to win a gold medal at the World championships in Ankara, Turkey , Laying his hands on Canada's first ever world championship title.
The 2000 Olympic Games were exciting for all Candians and especially the Hargobind wrestling family. Daniel Igali came home with Olympic Gold.
Upon his arrival in the lower mainland Satnam invited Randeep to make the move from Williams Lake and he made plans for a training facility within the garage of his own home. This spartan wrestling facility became the place of daily training sessions. What started as a family club soon attracted wrestling enthusiasts from around the community. Jasvir (Fateh) Singh an accomplished wrestler from India came on board and shared the coaching duties with an Olympian from Afghanistan, Mohammad Qayum. It was 1992 when the "Hargobind Wrestling Club" was officially named by Bikar Singh Parhar.
The 1993 season proved to be a positive one for Hargoind Wrestling. The club was relocated to Johals new residence in the country side, creating the perfect environment for the wrestlers. Later that year, Randeep Sodhi became the clubs first ever provincial champion and capped off the year with a Canada Summer Games bronze medal. The summer of 1993 saw the addition of a 2 time Olympian, Nazir Lal. After winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Championships in Victoria BC, Nazir decided not to return to his war torn country, instead he applied to make Canada his new home.
Lal and Sodhi joined the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club. Training at Burnaby Mountain the athletes were able to practice with some of the countries top senior wrestlers. The Hargobind program soon became a springboard for athletes to develop their wrestling abilites and to move on to the National training center at Burnaby Mountain.
The 1994 season began with silver medal for Randeep at the Canadian Nationals in the Espoir (under 21) division. That summer the Commonwealth Games brought Nigerian wrestler Daniel Igali to Canada. It was at Burnaby mountain that Igali made contact with Randeep and Nasir and all three wrestlers became roommates at Johal's residence.
By the Summer of 1995 Hargobind Wrestling had grown to a collection of 15 athletes. Jas Sanghera and Am Hayre, Satnams youngest nephew became members of the club.
At 1996 Nationals championships Nasir Lal wrestled a memorable and hard fought double overtime match against defending world silver medalist Gia Sissouri. Gia claimed the gold and Lal the silver.While Sodhi, Lal And Igali were focused on making Canada's senior national team, Am Hayre was was doing his share of winning as well, winning a provincial championship in 1997. Nasir Lal capped off 1997 with a National title while Igali took the bronze and Sodhi finish second in Greco.
The following year Sodhi and Lal would both medal at the nationals and Daniel Igali ended up with a confidence building fourth place finish at the World championships. This was only a gimpse of what we would see in 1999 and 2000.Coming off a knee surgery just weeks before the 99 Worlds , Igali went on to win a gold medal at the World championships in Ankara, Turkey , Laying his hands on Canada's first ever world championship title.
The 2000 Olympic Games were exciting for all Candians and especially the Hargobind wrestling family. Daniel Igali came home with Olympic Gold.