This reportage portraits a training session of kushti wrestlers in Lahore, Pakistan, part of a traditional form of wrestling known as pehlwani.

Training takes place in akharas, traditional wrestling grounds where athletes practice in earth pits prepared with soil, water, oil, and clay. Wrestlers follow disciplined daily routines that combine strength exercises, sparring, and strict dietary and lifestyle rules, often including abstinence from alcohol and tobacco. Before bouts, wrestlers perform small rituals, such as throwing earth onto themselves and their opponent, a gesture associated with respect and preparation for combat.

Kushti is not only a training practice but also a competitive sport. Matches, known as dangal, are held in mud arenas, where victory is achieved by pinning the opponent to the ground. These events historically drew large crowds and were central to local sporting culture. In recent decades, the practice has declined. The traditional akhara system has lost institutional and financial support. Broader socio-economic changes, the rise of modern sports and shifting cultural priorities have further pushed kushti to the margins.