1995 Photo Contest, Sports, 1st prize
Photographer

Stephen Dupont

Katz Pictures

01 January, 1994

The compacted earth of the mud pit softens the impact of throws and falls at the wrestling school of Guru Hanuman (95) in Old Delhi. Guru Hanuman (95) is celibate and a vegetarian. He was given his name, which he shares with the valiant monkey-god of Hindu legend, by holy men when he went in search of god as a teenager. He runs a wrestling school in Old Delhi. Since it opened in 1928, about 100,000 boys have attended the gymnasium, where aspiring athletes from the age of five are put through rigorous training routines. The guru's students have won medals at the Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Using his political connections - he counts several maharajahs among his patrons - Guru Hanuman frequently finds his pupils jobs in the police force, the army or on the railways.

About the photographer

Stephen Dupont

Stephen Dupont (Sydney, Australia, 1967) is a self-taught photojournalist and documentary filmmaker. He is based in Australia and regularly works on assignments for Time, Newswee...

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