Kolhapur: Renowned wrestler Sripati Khanchanale, who had awarded the prestigious 'Hind Kesari' title in 1959, died on Monday at a private hospital in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra. He was aged 86. "My father died due to old age at Diamond Hospital in Kolhapur on early Monday morning," said Khanchanale's son Rohit.

Sripati Khanchanale was also a recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati award, which is given by the Maharashtra government. 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 the 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.

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