RICHMOND, BC: In a tale of familial legacy, Daya and Mayva, the young siblings of the Bhullar family, have won big at the Washington State Novice Wrestling Championships. Following the footsteps of their uncle, the legendary wrestling champion Arjan Bhullar, these Richmond brothers won gold and silver medals on February 4, 2024, at Sedro-Woolley High School in Washington.
With over 25 teams participating in the championships, Daya wrestled Under 10 (71 lbs) division while Mayva wrestled Under 8 (70 lbs) division. The siblings faced four matches each, culminating in a Gold medal for Mayva and a Silver for Daya.
Both boys wrestled a tough four matches each, with Mayva earning a Gold medal while Daya got a Silver. This win capped their season in the US. According to the family, both the boys have wrestled over 20 matches this year each gaining a ton of experience. This victory adds a feather in the cap of their wrestling season, having participated in more than 20 matches this year, amassing invaluable experience.
Undeterred by last year’s loss in the Championships, the brothers bounced back with Mayva staying undefeated this year. While sharing his feelings he said, “Winning the Gold medal is like the best thing ever! Last year, when I lost, it was a bit sad, but this time I trained super hard and did crazy awesome moves I learned during practices. My coaches always say to wrestle smart so I kept thinking about that during my matches even when I was exhausted. I feel really proud of myself when the referee raises my hand after winning and everyone gets to see my hard work on the mats.”
Daya echoed the same sentiments, “Winning the Silver medal feels super awesome! Last year was tough with losing but it motivated me to train harder this year. So, after last year’s loss, I didn’t just sit around feeling sad. I went to the gym everyday, practiced with my coaches, and focused on improving my skills.”
He said his favorite part of the championship was celebrating with family and team on the podium with his medal and “seeing how proud I made my Mom and Dad.”
The brothers are getting trained at Bhullar Wrestling Club three times a week under the tutelage of Head Coaches Jag Bhullar, Arjan Bhullar and Oscar Bulaqui. Beyond personal victories, their mission is to inspire and initiate young minds into the sport of wrestling, emphasizing the importance of a wholesome diet for optimal performance.
Daya and Mavya started getting attracted to the sport at a very young age when they watched their uncles Arjan and Jag Bhullar training on the mats. “My brother and I would roll on the mats when we were small and watch our uncles wrestle. It motivated me to wrestle because I wanted to win and have my hand raised too. My brother and I also watch our uncles matches on YouTube and it pushes us to train harder.”
Students of McNeely Elementary School in Richmond, the brother’s goal the brothers envision fortifying their strength, enhancing skills, and amassing more medals.
