SANGLI

Bail-gada shariyat, or bullock cart races, were once a common tradition across rural Maharashtra, including Sangli district. The races were banned in 2011, but in 2017, the State government enacted legislation to restart the races. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the legislation, and the Supreme Court initially declined to lift the stay, referring the matter to a larger bench. In 2021, the Supreme Court upheld the State’s legislation, thereby legalising the races once more.

Similar games are played in Tamil Nadu, where it is known as ‘Jallikattu', also known as 'eruthazhuvuthal', and is played as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The Bail Gada shariyats of Maharashtra resemble the 'Kambala' race, held in Karnataka between November and March, which involves a pair of buffaloes tied to a plough and anchored by one person. They are made to run in parallel muddy tracks in a competition in which the fastest team wins.

The sport is extremely popular in this region of Maharashtra, and farmers with their bulls enthusiastically participate in it.

Wrestling, or 'kusti,' has a deep-rooted significance in Sangli, where traditional akhadas and taalims (wrestling schools) have been an integral part of the region's cultural heritage. More than just a sport, wrestling is a tradition closely linked to local festivals and fairs, reflecting the area's rich history and community spirit.

Sangli has produced legendary wrestlers such as Chandrahar Patil and Maruti Mane, among others. The village of Bambavade in Palus taluka, Sangli district, holds a special place in Maharashtra’s wrestling tradition, hosting the season’s first wrestling championship every year on August 15 since India's independence. This one-day event begins in the afternoon and continues late into the night, attracting wrestlers from across the country, particularly from Haryana, who eagerly await an invitation from the organisers.

During the freedom struggle, the Sangli-Satara region was a centre of revolutionary activities, with leaders like Krantisinh Nana Patil spearheading the fight against British rule. The movement operated underground with widespread support. For the revolutionaries and their followers, 15 August 1947, was a momentous occasion, and they commemorated India's first Independence Day by organising a wrestling match. According to Bambavade’s former sarpanch, Vikram Sankpal, village elders recall that as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the Tricolour at Red Fort, wrestling bouts began on a small red-soil ground in Bambavade.

What started as a local event for villagers has now grown into a grand championship attended by over 25,000 wrestling enthusiasts from across the region. Spectators remain engaged for hours, watching matches between emerging and seasoned wrestlers until the very end. The event is organised by the village panchayat and Utkarsh Mandal through community donations, with each family traditionally contributing ₹500. On the morning of August 15, a donation box is carried in a procession through the village, and the collected funds are used as prize money for the bouts.

This championship in Bambavade holds the distinction of being the first in a series of wrestling events that take place throughout the season, maintaining its legacy as a prestigious and eagerly awaited competition.

Cricket remains the most popular sport in the district. Several local cricket tournaments are also held in the district. Notably, the Jath Teacher’s Premier League, Sara Premier League, Kuslewadi Premier League, CMDA Turf League, JP Turf League, etc. These tournaments are usually played by using the soft tennis ball instead of the hard leather balls used otherwise. The sport also remains the most played and watched game in the district. 

There are several Cricket academies as well that contribute to the promotion of the sport and provide the necessary infrastructure required for it, such as the Sumeet Sports Cricket Academy, Cricket Mantras Academy, Pawar’s Indoor Cricket Club, and the Rakesh Ubale Cricket Academy. Stadiums such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Stadium and the Tarun Bharat Stadium are both located in Sangli city and also host cricket matches. The Sangli Cricket District Association, which is affiliated with the Maharashtra Cricket Board, has also played a vital role in the development of the sport in the district. 

Football has been gaining popularity in recent years. In January 2024, the U-15 Asmita Football League, a joint initiative by WIFA, AIFF, and SAI, was kicked off. This league provided a platform for aspiring young female footballers. Sangli's Football teams also participate in the various inter-district matches and tournaments organised by the Western Indian Football Association (WIFA). However, the team hasn’t gained any huge success yet. There are a few football coaching classes, such as the N’Joy football club, Krishna Valley FC and Academy, and Champion’s Sports Club contribute to the promotion of the sport and provide the necessary infrastructure required for it. 

In addition to these sports, other sports such as Table Tennis and Badminton are also quite popular in the district and are played for recreational purposes by people. A few dedicated academies and courts have also started functioning in the past few years.

Maruti Mane, born on 10 August 1938 in Sangli, was a wrestler who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics. Mane had a glorious run as a wrestler between 1962 and 1972 and did exceedingly well for the country in major championships. In the 1970 Commonwealth Games, he won silver in the unlimited freestyle event. In the 1962 Asian Games, he won gold in the 97 kg freestyle and silver in the 97 kg Greco-Roman events.

Mane was crowned Hind Kesari in 1964 after defeating Rajasthan wrestler Mahiruddin. He was at one time listed among the best wrestlers in the world. In his wrestling days, Mane used to work out for almost 10 to 12 hours daily. His fitness was said to be the reason for him lasting a good 11 minutes against the then all-conquering Russian wrestler Alexander Medved in 1967. He was awarded the Dhyanchand Award in 2005 for his contribution to wrestling. He passed away at the ripe age of 71 in Kavathe Piran, Miraj, on 27 July 2010.

Samruddhi Tanaji is a young, upcoming wrestler who is native to Sangli. She belongs to a family of humble farmers and has participated in various editions of the Khelo India Youth Games. In the 2022 Khelo India Youth Games, she was able to win a silver medal in the 46 kg category. In the previous edition of the Khelo India Youth Games held in Haryana, due to a shoulder niggle, Tanaji lost the bronze medal match. In addition to this, she has also won two bronze medals in the age group category in her weight category at the national level. Samruddhi is also an inspiration to various girls of her region who look up to her as an idol.

Keshav Mangave, born on 10 June 1926 in Miraj, Sangli, was a wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle featherweight at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He passed away on 11 July 1997. 

There are a few stadiums in the district, such as the Tarun Bharat Stadium, Dasara Chowk Stadium, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Stadium. These stadiums are equipped with facilities for sports such as Cricket, Football, Skating, Hockey, Kabaddi, Tennis and Athletics. A public sports complex is also present in the town of Mira,j which is equipped with many amenities and is used for tournaments and training. 

Since the district has a strong wrestling culture, Talims are also an important part of the district’s sports infrastructure. Talims such as Hande Patil Talim, Shri Sambha Talim, Kore Talim, Kokane Talim, and the modern Vasantdada Kushti Kendra.

In 2025, it was announced that a Judo Excellence Centre would also be set up in the district to promote the sport.