Est. 13 August 2024 · Sangli, Maharashtra

The Foundation

Kusteeveer — कुस्तीवीर — means “wrestling hero.” We are a Section 8 non-profit company founded in the name of India's original kusteeveer, to give the next generation the chances he never had.

Our Origin

Born Forty Years After His Passing

Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav died on 14 August 1984 with one dream unfulfilled — a world-class wrestling academy in his village, Goleshwar. On 13 August 2024, on the eve of the fortieth anniversary of his passing, his family and well-wishers gave that dream a legal form: the Kusteeveer Khashaba Jadhav Foundation, a non-profit company licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.

The Section 8 structure was a deliberate choice. It is the most rigorously governed non-profit form in India: our memorandum is approved by the Registrar of Companies, our accounts are audited, and by law every rupee of income must be applied solely to our charitable objects — no dividend or profit can ever be distributed.

Download the Fact Sheet: Khashaba Jadhav’s Journey (PDF)

Pritisangam at Karad — the confluence of the Krishna and Koyna rivers — Pritisangam, Karad — the meeting of the Krishna and Koyna, in Khashaba's home region where the Foundation's work begins. Image: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Vision

An India where no child with sporting talent is ever turned away for being too poor, too small, or too far from opportunity — where the road from a village akhada to an Olympic podium is paved, lit and open to all.

Our Mission

To build academies, grounds and support systems across wrestling and 40+ disciplines; to care for athletes and communities; to partner with government and society; and to preserve and publish India's sporting heritage — beginning with the legacy of Khashaba Jadhav himself.

Our Charter

Objects of the Foundation

Set out in our Memorandum of Association (Form INC-13) and approved by the Registrar of Companies, our objects extend to the whole of India and abroad. Summaries below — expand each for the substance of the registered object.

1 · Promote academies and players across 40+ sporting disciplines

To promote, manage, sponsor, grant, arrange, facilitate and open academies, centres, indoor and outdoor games and players — including, and not limited to, Wrestling, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Breakdancing, Boxing, Canoe/Kayak, Climbing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Open Water Swimming, Roller Sport, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Football, Swimming, Surfing, Synchronized Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Track and Field, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Martial Arts, and any other indoor and outdoor games.

2 · Build and run sports infrastructure and training facilities

To promote, own, build, run and arrange grounds, infrastructural facilities, buildings, stadiums, turf, gyms, instruments, tools, materials and machinery — along with healthcare, wellness, training and coaching — and to arrange, grant, rent out, lease and sponsor courses, facilities, sports activities, matches, academies and trainings for all types of games.

3 · Welfare services for players, people and all living beings

To grant, promote, run and render welfare services to all lives — human beings, birds and animals alike — and to establish food camps, shelter houses, old-age homes, orphanages, medical and hospital services, camps, meditation, healing and health clubs and centres, helping people in psychological, mental and physical ways — and to work for players.

4 · Entrepreneurship, partnerships and welfare-scheme platforms

To conduct entrepreneurship development programmes; to work as a special purpose vehicle (SPV), common service centre and platform with various government and non-government departments, corporations and bodies, to help achieve the object of being a facility and platform for various social components and welfare schemes.

5 · Research and publication of sporting biographies and literature

To undertake or arrange for research, book-writing, printing and publication of books, magazines and journals on biographies and autobiographies relating to sportspersons and other sports activities.

The Memorandum further empowers the Foundation to establish branches across India and abroad, partner with governments and institutions, accept grants and donations, and acquire facilities — always subject to the Section 8 condition that income and property are applied solely to these objects.

Leadership

Founders

The Foundation was subscribed and founded by the family of Khashaba Jadhav and like-minded citizens of Maharashtra.

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Photo Slot Founder photograph

Ranjeet Khashaba Jadhav

Founder · Goleshwar, Karad, District Satara

Son of Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, and the untiring custodian of his father's legacy — who has worked for decades for the academy his father dreamed of and for national recognition of India's first individual Olympic medallist.

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Photo Slot Founder photograph

Dhyananjay Anil Madwanna

Founder · Sangli

Co-founder and steward of the Foundation's establishment and governance, anchoring its work in Sangli — the Foundation's registered home.

Details of the full Board of Directors, advisors and patrons will be published here as the Foundation's governance grows.

Trust & Transparency

Statutory Registrations

Every registration below is verifiable against Government of India records (Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Income Tax Department, and NITI Aayog).

Legal Status	Non-profit company licensed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (Licence No. 159574)
Date of Incorporation	13 August 2024
CIN	U88900PN2024NPL233550
PAN	AALCK2300D
TAN	KLPK04051F
12A Registration (Income-tax)	URN AALCK2300DE20241 · dated 25 November 2024 (provisional, w.e.f. AY 2025-26)
80G Approval (Income-tax)	URN AALCK2300DF20241 · dated 25 November 2024 (provisional, w.e.f. AY 2025-26) — donations eligible for 80G deduction
NITI Aayog NGO Darpan	MH/2025/0608213 (Active)
Registered Office	1599, Arihant Galaxy, Flat No. F-1, Civil Hospital Road, Sangli, Maharashtra 416416, India

Section 8 assurance: by the terms of our licence, the Foundation's profits and property, whensoever derived, are applied solely to promoting its objects. No portion may be paid as dividend, bonus or profit to members — ever.

Walk With Us

A legacy this large cannot be carried alone.

Partner with the Foundation — as a donor, institution, CSR partner or volunteer.

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The Story Behind the Foundation

Learn about the life that inspired this mission.

Khashaba Jadhav's complete story — the village akhada, London 1948, the bout-by-bout record of Helsinki 1952, the homecoming, and the honour India still owes him — is preserved at our dedicated legacy archive.

Visit khashaba.in →