Dahiya was born in Nahri village, Sonipat district, Haryana. From age 10, he trained under Satpal Singh at Chhatrasal Stadium in North Delhi. His father, Rakesh Dahiya, a small farmer, travelled 39 km daily to deliver fresh milk and fruits to support his son's diet. Ravi is a devotee of Lord Shiva.

Career Beginnings

Dahiya began wrestling in his early teens. He won a silver medal at the 2015 Junior World Wrestling Championships in Salvador de Bahia in the 55 kg category. An injury in 2017 kept him out for over a year. In his comeback year, he won silver at the 2018 World U23 Wrestling Championship in Bucharest.

Pro Wrestling League and Asian Championships

Dahiya remained unbeaten at the 2019 Pro Wrestling League, representing Haryana Hammers. He finished fifth at the 2019 Asian Wrestling Championships in Xi'an after losing the bronze medal match. In his World Championships debut in 2019, he defeated European champion Arsen Harutyunyan and 2017 world champion Yuki Takahashi to secure an Olympic quota place.

Olympic Journey

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Dahiya won his first two bouts on technical superiority. In the semifinal, he pinned Kazakh wrestler Nurislam Sanayev to win by fall despite trailing on points. Reports indicated that Sanayev bit Dahiya during the match. In the final, Dahiya lost to ROC wrestler Zaur Uguev, earning a silver medal.

Recent Competitions

In 2022, Dahiya won gold at the Yasar Dogu Tournament by defeating Uzbek Gulomjon Abdullaev 11-10 in the final. However, he lost to Abdullaev again in the pre-quarterfinals of the 2022 World Wrestling Championships.

Awards and Recognition

Dahiya received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021, India's highest sporting honour. For his silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, he was awarded ₹50 lakh from the Government of India, ₹4 crore from the Government of Haryana, ₹50 lakh from BCCI, and ₹40 lakh from IOA.

Dahiya's journey reflects his dedication and resilience. His achievements have made him a prominent figure in Indian wrestling. As he continues to compete and aim for more titles, his career remains one to watch closely.