From correspondents in Himachal Pradesh, India, 12:15 PM IST
Shimla - From working as a labourer in a tiny Himalayan village to the rings of a professional wrestling circuit that is watched by millions worldwide, Dalip Singh Rana aka Singh has come a long way.
Singh now fights for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the United States under the ring name 'The Great Khali'. Standing at 7 feet 3 inches and weighing 420 pounds, Singh is one of the tallest wrestlers in the popular WWE circuit.
He has also acted in a Hollywood film 'The Longest Yard' with Adam Sandler.
'I spoke to him on phone in California, he is practising hard and looking forward to his upcoming fights before he returns home in about three months,' his uncle Sai Singh told IANS.
On his debut on WWE's television show 'Smackdown!' last month, Singh attacked The Undertaker during his match with Mark Henry.
In January, TEN Sports signed a one-year contract with him.
Singh has been named The Great Khali by WWE organisers as he often invokes Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction, during his fights.
He is the third of eight children born to his parents in Dhirana village of Sirmaur valley, about 170 km from here. Before embarking on his sporting career, Singh was an officer in the Punjab state police, a champion bodybuilder and an athlete.
Unfortunately, however, villagers in his home Dhirana can't watch his exploits in the ring because they have no access to cable television.
'Dalip is illiterate and worked for many years as a labourer in a small hamlet and later in Shimla, after which he was picked by the neighbouring Punjab Police chief and recruited as a constable,' said Sai Singh.
Here he began body building and later went on to make his debut as a professional wrestler.
(Staff Writer, © IANS)
Most Recent Comments
my opnion also as like malik haider.coz im bangladeshi.when i watch great khalis match than i always support khali.i hav a belive one day khali must be be shown in wwe is as a great nd winne r wrestler in wwe.
no matter what khali nationality is i am pakistani i dont like when khali loose match always i pray for khali i like khali becuase i am also asians off course he is excellent 7 feet 400 pouds with muscle he did some very good matches with kane shaun micheals off course he is big pain for batista and i like when i saw confusion on batista face well i will pray for khali
I saw "The Great Khali" last night in a Walmart in Georgia. I hardly ever watch wrestling, but, the times I have. I had seen him. No mistaken identity...he was even wearing his WWE shirt. It looks as if he was with his wife (girlfriend?) and didn't look too happy to be out and about.
I know this man from last 8 years and I am from the same state which he belongs in india "Punjab". He was initially very poor I read his biography in local press release when he got the first prize in punjab police body building chamionship and I love this man, He is awsome...I had his photograph in my GYM cut from that same local paper "Punjab Kesari". He is an inspiration for all those who wish to make their career in wrestling in India and also he is a great person from heart as well I remember his words written in punjab kesari that I was very poor doing daily wages in his village in himachal(his parent state) then he came to punjab and got job in punjab police...then his career got started as a professional wrestler...I saw him in jalandhar city in PAP ground many times.
I think he is awsome and would love to meet him. He does a great job and is very entertaining.
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