Mo Luckman Ali, a wrestler, alumnus, and staff member of the Games & Sports Department at Jamia Millia Islamia, has made the university proud with his stellar performance in Iran while representing India.
Popularly known as Jamia ka Sultan, Luckman secured 5th position in the 7th Asian Zurkhaneh Sports & Koshti Pahlavani Championship 2025, held in Urumieh, Iran, from October 8 to 11, 2025, according to a release issued by the university.
A total of 20 countries participated in the tournament.
ALSO READ: Jamia Polytechnic student suffers heart attack outside class; alumni raise Rs 13 lakh for treatment
Luckman holds a BA (Hons) in Hindi and an MA in Social Work from Jamia. He is an exceptional athlete who has represented the university in numerous state, national, and international wrestling competitions, winning several medals.
Born in Uttar Pradesh but now hailing from Jamia Millia Islamia, Luckman, a Jujutsu wrestler, is a prodigy for big contests and has trained under top coaches from Chhatrasal Stadium.
Luckman has earned several accolades, including a Bronze at the All India Inter-University Championship, 5th place at the Asian Games, and Gold at the National Jujutsu Championship (2022–23).
Professor Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia, extended his congratulations to wrestler star Luckman, commending his dedication in attaining this significant recognition and for bringing laurels to Jamia at the international level.
Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar of Jamia, also praised Luckman for his extraordinary performance at the championship in Iran and wished him success in future tournaments.
Professor Nafis Ahmad, Honorary Director of Games and Sports at Jamia, appreciated Luckman’s commitment and diligence in achieving this honor for the university. He encouraged him to continue making Jamia proud through his determination and hard work.
Luckman was also selected for Khelo India. His passion for wrestling dates back to his school days. “My journey began at the school level. When I was in high school, there used to be school games. I wasn’t much into sports initially, but some friends encouraged me to participate. At first, I started with running events,” he recalled.
In an interview with Radio Dwarka two years ago, he said: “Then my guruji told me, ‘Lukman, your physique, your body language, your structure — it’s made for wrestling!’ He encouraged me to take it up seriously. I used to go for tuition classes, and along with that, I started training in wrestling.”
Luckman learned the nitty-gritty of wrestling in an akhada about 10 kilometers from his village. “After finishing my tuition, I used to go there for practice. Later, after completing my intermediate studies, I came to Delhi. I got admission to Jamia through the sports quota. Under coach Yuvraj Singh Dhadkan, I trained seriously. My guruji, Jai Shri Ram, and Ruby coach supported me immensely. They guided me step by step, and that’s how I progressed.”
Luckman was the first in his family to pursue wrestling as a profession. “My family had no wrestling background. I belong to a small village called Morkha Patti. There weren’t any wrestlers there, but I had the spirit and courage. Initially, my parents were hesitant they said it’s a dangerous sport. But gradually, they saw my passion. My father, despite his modest salary, supported me wholeheartedly. Whatever little he earned, he spent on my training. So yes, the biggest support came from my father. The elders of my village always bless and encourage me,” Luckman told a YouTube channel.
The Jamia wrestler said he owes his success and physique to his parents, and that his wrestling represents the spirit of India. He faced a major setback during his prime when an injury forced him to take a year-long break. “In 2018, I suffered a severe back injury. Doctors advised a year of rest. At that point, I felt I might never wrestle again. But with blessings and prayers, I recovered. In 2019, I returned to the mat and made a strong comeback. Challenges will always come, but they make you stronger.”
He advises aspiring wrestlers to focus on discipline and diet. “Find a good akhada or stadium like Chhatrasal Stadium, Hanuman Akhada, or Prem Nath Akhada in Delhi. Train under a good coach or guru that’s most important. And yes, health and diet are everything; they play a huge role.”
A vegetarian by choice, Luckman’s biggest dream is to represent India at the Olympics.
