Pune, December 14: Noted wrestler Sripati Khanchanale, who had won the prestigious 'Hind Kesari' title in 1959, died on Monday at a private hospital in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra. He was 86.

"My father died due to old age at Diamond Hospital in Kolhapur on early Monday morning," Khanchanale's son Rohit told PTI. He was also a recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati award, which is given by the Maharashtra government. Also Read | Arsenal Stare at Relegation Post Their Defeat Against Burnley FC in EPL 2020-21, Fans Want Mikel Arteta to be SACKED!.

In 1959, Khanchanale won the 'Hind Kesari' title by defeating wrestler Rustam-e-Punjab Battasingh at the New Railway Stadium in Delhi. The prestigious 'Hind Kesari' title commands highest respect in the Indian wrestling world.

A well-known wrestler, Khanchanale was a native of Eksamba in Belgaum. The young Khanchanale was sent by his father, also a wrestler, to learn wrestling in Kolhapur. His funeral took place earlier in the day in Kolhapur.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)