Kusti 

Kusti

Reuben Steins: Kusti

Reuben’s striking photos of mud covered traditional Indian wrestlers are an intriguing and unique insight into an art form of the past. It was once considered to be the pursuit of heroes, and at the peak of its popularity at the beginning of last century, successful fighters were hailed as living legends. Now Kusti is only practised in a handful of remote towns and villages across the country. Its future is uncertain as government funding favours more modern styles of wrestling likely to win Olympic medals and TV coverage.

Reuben Steains is a documentary photographer currently working for Amnesty International.